Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, struggling to cope with the tsunami disaster as he completes 100 days in office, has apologised to Indonesians for failing to fulfil a range of pledges including an end to corruption.
"Frankly speaking, working hard day and night for 35 days in dealing with Aceh has caused some delays," Yudhoyono said in an interview with editors of leading Indonesian media organisations. The interview was broadcast on Metro television channel.
He said the December 26 tsunami in Aceh province has left him with only two-thirds of his time for the rest of the nation. However, the government has managed to settle some problems he inherited, including the safe return of illegal Indonesian workers from Malaysia.
He said the government has resolved 24 of 70 major corruption cases involving government officials, and given the go-ahead for questioning 31 provincial governors and mayors over corruption allegations.
Indonesia is acknowledged to be one of the most corrupt nations in the world, a legacy of the power stranglehold created by former dictator Suharto and his family. Its unsavoury reputation has raised concerns about transparency in distributing the massive amounts of foreign aid money pouring into the country to help the tsunami victims.
The government has pledged to issue a monthly accounting of aid money to satisfy the international community that none of it is siphoned off by corrupt officials.
Yudhoyono, 55, a former general whose squeaky-clean image helped bring him victory in Indonesia's first direct presidential election in September, took office for a five-year term on October 20.
He promised to "take steps" within 100 days on several fronts, including fighting corruption, making economic gains, alleviating poverty, reducing unemployment and ending separatist conflicts in Aceh and Papua provinces. Government negotiators and Aceh rebel leaders began peace talks in Finland on Friday amid pledges by Yudhoyono to grant the guerrillas wider autonomy.
But in the interview he acknowledged that achieving all these goals would not be as easy as "turning upside down the palm of the hand".
Indonesia's economy was devastated by the 1997-1999 Asian financial crisis. Its current growth rate is slower than its neighbours' and is not quick enough to reduce the country's high unemployment rate, officially nine per cent.
The World Bank expects 4.9 per cent economic growth for 2004 and 5.4 per cent growth in 2005.
"I apologise if the people had high expectations, but the government has limitations in achieving them," Yudhoyono said.
He promised to take into account all criticism and asked for the people's support. "We will further improve our hard work in the future. Give the government room and time to continue its tasks."