There was a time when thousands of people would gather to hear president Sukarno deliver the annual state of the union address in person, and millions more across the country would be glued to radios.
An excellent orator, the founding president could always be counted on to deliver fiery speeches filled with fresh ideas and exciting new proposals, making the state of the union address an eagerly awaited occasion.
Older Indonesians still recall these fiery, flowery speeches, including ones with titles such as "Never abandon history", "The revolution is not over" and "Only a nation with self-reliance can become a great nation", or his memorable address at the 1962 UN General Assembly, "To build the world anew".
Few would argue with the statement that leaders win respect and trust from their words as well as their actions. People immortalize great leaders of the past by quoting their words.
The power of words helps nations withstand and overcome difficulties during their most critical times, such as during the early years of Indonesia's independence.
Unfortunately, it was words of encouragement that were absent from the state of the union address delivered by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Thursday.
From beginning to end, the speech was little more than a list of what the President claimed to be the achievements of his administration. The rest was a to-do list for the country.
With Indonesia still struggling to rebuild from the multi-dimensional crisis that struck a decade ago, there is a need for a leader who can play an inspirational role.
That Yudhoyono scored a landslide win in the landmark direct presidential election almost three years ago reflected the great expectations that he would guide Indonesia to a better future.
Yudhoyono's speech lacked a theme or focus, not to mention any indication of the direction in which Indonesia should be heading in the coming years. It seemed that the speech was intended to touch on many issues, ranging from poverty to separatist movements, without really discussing any of them. This resulted in a complete lack of necessary details to help us identify and deal with our problems.
A state of the union address would be an event worth waiting for if it offered new insight.
Take, for example, our neighbors in Singapore, who can expect something new with every National Day speech. In 2006 it was the country's future in a rapidly changing world and in 2005 the concern about a fast growing China.
Post-Sukarno, the national address here has become mere ritual. It is prepared by experts and speechwriters, discouraging the president from straying from the script.
It comes as no surprise when those in attendance for the state of the union address at the House of Representatives building are spotted reading newspapers or sending messages on their cell phones as the speech is delivered.
Public speaking is an art, and not all leaders are blessed with oratory skills. It is then the President's team that plays a crucial role in translating the head of state's vision into a speech that will attract and hold the nation's attention. Otherwise, the speech faces the very real risk of being considered mere preaching.
The President requires a team willing and able to identify what the nation most needs. It is a tough job as the silent majority makes up the bulk of the country's population. Perhaps it is time for the President to start considering a new team.