President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono remains extremely popular and if an election were held today he would win by a virtual landslide, according to a new poll released on Thursday (28/12/06). This was reported by Indonesia’s Trade and Investment News released by the Coordinating Ministry for the Economy.

The Jakarta-based Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI) found in its latest poll that the approval rating for Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had reached 67%, more than the 61% of the popular vote he and running mate Jusuf Kalla garnered in the 2004 presidential election.

The LSI interviewed 1,227 people between December 18 and 22 in all the country's 33 provinces for the poll, which has a 3% margin of error. The survey found that Yudhoyono would win an election today with 41% of the vote, outdoing Megawati Sukarnoputri, of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), with 17%, and Kalla with just 4%.

Yudhoyono's job approval rating remains at a comfortable 56%, largely because of perceptions of a stable economy and better prospects for next year.

The survey found that 48% of respondents were optimistic about an improved economy in 2007, up from 40% on the December 2005 figure.

Political analyst Sukardi Rinakit, of the Soegeng Sarjadi Syndicate, said it would be strange if Yudhoyono failed to register an improvement in his job approval rating. "Everything about him has worked in his favor," he pointed out. "He is seen as an honest and disinterested figure, and is a former general who holds a PhD. What's not to like?"

Sukardi said Yudhoyono is seen as capable of resolving three serious problems -- the rise of fundamentalism, terrorism and the separatist conflict in Aceh.

On Tuesday, Yudhoyono hinted at a possible change in leadership style in the remaining two and a half years of his presidency.  "The government I lead is entering the third year now, so in the years ahead I will use clear language," the president said in his address marking the 69th anniversary of the Antara news agency.

He said in the past two years it was enough for his government to carry out persuasive approaches to solve various problems faced by the people and the bureaucracy.  But now it was time to take more concrete action.

"I want to carry out our mission more openly so that it can be seen by the people," he said. "In that way, the people will know that the government is really working in their interest and I think it is now time for that condition to be created."