Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was sworn in as Indonesia's sixth president, promising to revive a precarious economy by personally leading a war on endemic graft while also tackling terrorism.
After taking the oath which cemented his victory in the country's first-ever democratic presidential polls, Yudhoyono outlined his goals in a maiden speech warning of tough times for the world's largest Muslim-populated nation.
Late Wednesday he also unveiled the cabinet with which he intends to fulfill his promises, a broad selection of ministers peppered with business sector-friendly bureaucrats and tried-and-trusted professionals.
"We have to remember that we will have to weather a difficult period and face heavy challenges. All these complex and difficult problems of our nation cannot possibly be overcome in 100 days, with a flick of the wrist," he said.
Among key appointments was Abdul Rahman Saleh – a supreme court judge with a squeaky-clean reputation – as the attorney general who will lead prosecutions in Yudhoyono's corruption fight.
Earlier, Yudhoyono and his deputy Yusuf Kalla were sworn in under the watch of Islamic officials at a heavily-guarded ceremony attended by regional leaders including Australian Prime Minister John Howard.
His predecessor Megawati Sukarnoputri was notably absent from the ceremony, reportedly tending to her garden – an apparent final snub by the former leader who has failed to concede defeat or congratulate the new president.
More than 2,000 police and military personnel were deployed to prevent a strike by the Al-Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiyah group, which staged the October 2002 Bali bombings and an attack last month on Australia's Jakarta embassy.
The unprecedented appearance of overseas leaders was seen as a reflection of the expectations which the international community have placed on Yudhoyono to deliver on promises of curbing Islamic extremists.
"The threat of terrorism and transnational crime is still haunting us," the former security minister said in his debut speech, which focused heavily on the corruption which has hampered the country's economic progress against fierce regional rivalry.
"The government will actively launch programmes to fight corruption. Those I will lead myself," he said. "Our economic growth is far below seven percent and is not yet enough to provide jobs. More than 10 million or our brothers are still jobless, some 16 percent of our people are still living below the poverty line."
Graft watchdog Transparency International said Wednesday Indonesia had dropped to the world's joint-eighth worst country for corruption, but said Yudhoyono's government was predicted to make substantial improvements. But Indonesia's business sector is likely to react positively to the president's new cabinet, which includes experienced bureaucrats and professionals in crucial economic roles.
Heading the finance ministry is Yusuf Anwar, an executive of the Asian Development Bank in Indonesia, while economy minister was named as Abu Rizal Bakri, a businessman and chairman of Indonesia's chamber of commerce.
Yudhoyono said his choices would probably not win universal praise, acknowledging discontent among supporters at the appointment of an executive from the International Monetary Fund, which some blame for Indonesia's economic malaise.
The ex-general beat Megawati by a landslide in September 20 polls. The election was seen as a milestone in the country's emergence as a democracy only six years after the downfall of dictator Suharto.
Though Megawati was credited with overseeing a successful election year and restoring economic stability, her popularity waned as she developed an image as a distant leader who lacked the drive to revive the financial sector.
Among Indonesia's large population of low-paid and unemployed there were hopes that the appointment of Yudhoyono would provide the reforms for which they once looked to Megawati.
But observers say he will face an uphill battle to take on an entrenched political elite in a parliament in which his supporters are in minority.