Jakarta – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Wednesday backed away from comments from a member of his party that the Indonesian Constitution should be amended to allow Yudhoyono to run for a third five-year term.

Speaking during a ceremony to mark Constitution Day at the House of Representatives, Yudhoyono said he "rejected" any moves to amend the Constitution in his favor.

"We should not play tricks in politics. Although everybody may have their own opinions, we should not be tricky by changing the Constitution, laws and regulations for personal interests," Yudhoyono said.

"We should also consider whether it is ethical for a person in power to give way for family members to continue the power, such as a wife or child. Though they are elected by democratic means, we should consider ethical standards."

Yudhoyono, earlier in his speech, said it was "not good" to have a president for life as in the past. "Absolute power tends to corrupt absolutely," he said.

The Jakarta Globe Facebook community, asked on the social networking Web site whether they thought Yudhoyono should be allowed a third term, responded overwhelmingly in the negative, with 39 of 40 comments posted in three hours saying "no."

"Hell no!" wrote Panji Winanteya Ruky, who was topped by Reyner Ferdinand, who penned: "?+10000 to 'HELL NO!!!!'"

"Definitely not," wrote Dede Prabowo. "Clinging to the status quo will only suppress the possibility of a new, younger and possibly better leader emerging from the crowd. The 31-years of Suharto regime did exactly this, and that's why we haven't seen any strong leaders post-Suharto...."

"No way," remarked Peter de Young, "all the ordinary people are waiting for Sri Mulyani to come back and give the nation what she gave as Minister of Finance."

Feri Zh, in the opposing camp, said if the government could continue to increase economic growth, reduce unemployment and provide a climate of stability, then "why not?"

"If not him, who else has at the very least command and control at the moment?" wrote Daud Abdullah.

"Look at the past presidents before him n after Bpk Suharto, ask yourself this question also? Who in the next generation can hold down the fort.. Is Indonesia ready for them, 2 terms as president to govern the state of what the indonesian economy is going through is insufficient considering the workload of infrastructures needed to be built, uniting a nation of this magnitude is by no means an easy feat!! Think abt it.."