The people of Indonesia this week voted for change ... as retired general Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono maintained a clear lead in the country's first direct presidential election. The people's choice faces one of the most challenging jobs in Asia – to help Indonesia realise something near its potential. Despite the terrorist bombing of the Australian Embassy just days before the final vote, the peaceful year of elections carried a strong message that Indonesians are not only backing democracy but have high expectations of it.
Presenter/Interviewer: Karon Snowdon
Speakers: Jenny, Jakarta mother of two; Muhalim, Jakarta taxi driver; Ghozali Badar, businessman and perfume merchant; Ina, hospital visitor; Budi S, Chair of the Democrat Party; Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
Snowdon: One reason for Mr Yudhoyono's popularity is his military background. Perhaps he can better deal with terrorists like those who bombed the Australian Embassy, timed it seems to coincide with the election. Beyond the senseless killing Indonesians worry about the economic impact and the effect on Indonesia's reputation, as does taxi driver Muhalim.
Muhalim: Yes I'm a little worried that world will think that everyone is like the bomber because we need the tourists to come to Indonesia. Its our big loss.
Snowdon: The Embassy bombing, attributed to Jemaah Islamiyah has touched even the perfume business of Ghozali Badar, who's built up his small business over 14 years to five shops and a shoe making factory.
Badar: After the Australian bombing especially we have trouble because we have so many salesmen who sell our perfume to offices throughout Jakarta. After the bombing it is very difficult for them to come into the buildings. This is the difficulty. It is good I think, the tighter security is good but I think if our country is more secure then its better. And I trust him especially because he has the background as army.
Snowdon: In addition to security, including domestic trouble spots like Aceh and Papua, Yudhoyono has made unemployment, the economy generally and fighting poverty and corruption his priorities. He's making a point of talking to farmers and teachers about whom jokes are made that even street beggars earn more than they do. His public expects him to improve education, the health system and other services. When I spoke to Ina, she was visiting a family member who was a patient at a hospital south of Jakarta.
Ina: It's very hard to find a good doctor, and we still pay high cost of health, it's only for the rich, not poor people and we hope after SBY new President we will have low cost health.
Snowdon: The campaign banners have long since disappeared from Jakarta's streets. Now advice is pouring in to Mr Yudhoyono – names for the important cabinet posts of Attorney General and economic ministers, how to deal with a potentially hostile parliament, how to make a splash in the first one hundred days.
People want a strong leader, but SBY's reputation borders on indecisiveness according to some who know him. His in-crowd includes hardline retired army officers and what little is known about his form of "guided democracy" has liberals here worried.
He favours order and has promised to maintain this sprawling, ethnically diverse nation's unity, a theme admittedly close to most Indonesian's hearts.
But to see this as SBY standing for over-regulation and heavy-handedness in cases like Papua and Aceh, is wrong, according to Budi Santoso, the Head of the small Democrat Party which SBY formed to launch his presidential bid.
Santoso: Since the beginning of the Republic, Sukarno tried to integrate this nation, the heterogeneous nation, to unite ethnic groups. And now we will certainly not return to the old Order, but we have to develop a modern system. So Sukarno spent the first 25 years since independence to integrate these people, by what? By introducing new regulations and code commonly accepted by these nations. How can we develop common regulations, commonly accepted? By developing the political party as the vehicle to express their ideas and aspirations orderly.
Snowdon: His win might still be unofficial but SBY's inauguration in late October isn't in doubt. Almost immediately he will have to deal with the politically sensitive issue of raising fuel prices by cutting subsidies to rein in the budget. And he will have to name names – high profile ones, in corruption investigations to satisfy one of his biggest election promises to go after the bigger fish. Indonesians will be watching and judging. Jenni, a former public servant has two children and lives in Jakarta.
Jenni: I hope they will be different, every President gives the same promises. We call that promises from heaven, but there's no realisation, that's why we hope this president will give us real promises, not from heaven anymore.
Snowdon: As Indonesia turns to SBY with hope, many will tell you they voted for him simply as the best choice out of a bad bunch. The direct election has been a great achievement on Indonesia's road to democracy, improving the calibre of political leadership will help ensure its also a less rocky one.