Hera Diani, Jakarta – It is not exactly like a subtle rejection by a fellow who dutifully gives his number and asks you to call him but never picks up the phone.
Nevertheless those who phoned or sent text messages to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's private number on Sunday, were disappointed by the "busy" tone or undelivered messages.
Pri, 31, for instance, dialed 0811109949 on Saturday evening, soon after Susilo said he was willing to listen to people's complaints through his cellular phone. "I couldn't get through and had no luck sending text messages either," Pri said on Sunday.
A journalist said the number Susilo gave was an old one that he used in the late 1990s, when he was the military chief of social and political affair. "Even then, the cell phone with that number was kept by his adjutant. So, it is highly possible that it's not Susilo's direct cell phone," she told The Jakarta Post.
According to presidential spokesperson Andi Mallarangeng, the system crashed not long after the President announced his number on Saturday because thousands of text messages were sent to it.
"We would like to apologize to everyone because of this incident. We're trying to find a system that can accommodate that many messages, maybe through a computerized system," Andi said on Sunday as quoted by detik.com news portal.
He said the President had been informed about the system crashing but the latter only smiled. "The President did not expect such an incredible response and interest from the public," he said.
Andi said the contents of the messages were varied, ranging from simple questions, such as asking the President how he is doing, to giving sympathetic support or information about the situation in regions.
The majority of the received messages, however, were trivial, from people who were just curious about the hotline service.
"We urge people to sort through their messages. Irrelevant information, or problems that are more suitable for the ears of community leaders, village chiefs, or local administrations should not be delivered. Please send messages only about cases that require presidential intervention, when local administrations are unable to solve them," Andi said.
The presidential spokesman issued a press statement on Sunday, saying that Susilo would soon provide five additional phone numbers that the public could contact him through.
Meanwhile, Gunawan Wibisono, a resident of South Jakarta suggested in his e-mail to detik.com that an e-mail account with a large capacity would be more effective than a private cell phone to receive public input.
"Internet access is available throughout the country. Besides, information sent via e-mail could be more complete, with an attachment et al., and it could keep the identity of the sender anonymous," he wrote.
The hotline service looks like just another public relations strategy to boost Susilo's image as the people's President, a persona he has made every effort to project.
Public relations consultant Miranti Abidin said President Susilo was a very image-conscious leader, but had no clear, substantial and continuous public relations strategy.
"The hotline service is actually a breakthrough and a good start. It can serve as a tip for local leaders to follow in Susilo's footstep in communicating directly with the people, and to pay more attention to them," Miranti told the Post.
She said if the direct communications strategy was not handled well, the President's good will would result in an adverse reaction from the public.
"It needs substantial, guided and sustainable public relations approaches, which unfortunately have not been seen from the President to date," said Miranti.