Indonesia: The Challenge of Change

I. Opening Address

I Opening Address Goh Chok Tong Your Excellency, Dr Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President of the Republic of Indonesia; Distinguished Guests: It is my pleasure to welcome all of you to the 25th Singapore Lecture. Since 1980, this Lecture series has provided a platform for distinguished world leaders to share their insights on strategic and global issues. It is our privilege to have His Excellency Dr Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President of the Republic of Indonesia, address us this morning. This is President Yudhoyono’s first state visit to Singapore but he is no stranger to us. President Yudhoyono is a long-time friend. He is a strong advocate of closer ties between Indonesia and Singapore. He shares a common vision with Singapore of a stable, resilient, and prosperous ASEAN. He recognizes that the region faces many common challenges, including intensifying external economic competition and the threat of terrorism, which require a concerted response from ASEAN. President Yudhoyono began his illustrious career in the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI), where he served with distinction in key appointments. He was Indonesia’s Chief Military Observer in Bosnia. He held territorial commands in Jakarta and Southern Sumatra. He was appointed Chief of the Armed Forces for Territorial 2 Affairs in 1998 and retired from active service in 2000, with the rank of General. President Yudhoyono then served as Minister for Mines and Energy in President Abdurrahman Wahid’s government. Soon after, he was promoted to Coordinating Minister for Social, Political and Security Affairs. President Megawati Soekarnoputri reappointed him to this post. In October 2004, he became Indonesia’s first directly elected president in a landslide victory. Clearly, the Indonesian people have placed their trust in President Yudhoyono to lead them. Since taking office, President Yudhoyono has displayed leadership, courage, and vigour in dealing with the challenges confronting Indonesia. After the devastating earthquake and resulting tsunamis off Aceh in December, he successfully hosted an international summit to coordinate the relief efforts. He rallied the hundreds of thousands affected to rebuild their lives. President Yudhoyono has laid out his long-term vision for a strong, united, and prosperous Indonesia. He is a democrat, a compassionate leader with the interests of ordinary Indonesians at heart. He believes in an open market and good governance. He knows these will enhance business confidence and attract foreign investments. He also places priority on revitalizing agriculture and rural economy to create jobs and reduce poverty. He treasures peace and stability. President Yudhoyono has already begun to lay the foundations for Indonesia’s stability and future development and to play its role as a leader in ASEAN. May I add that among President Yudhoyono’s many distinctions is his academic achievement. He holds a Masters degree in Business Management from Webster University in the United States and recently earned a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from Bogor Institute of Agriculture. 3 Let me now invite His Excellency President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to deliver the 25th Singapore Lecture, and to share with us his insights on “Indonesia: The Challenge of Change”. ...