Crunch Time for New Indonesia President

The Straits Times

28 August 2014

Indonesia’s president-elect Joko Widodo has huge tasks on his hands as he prepares to formally take power on Oct 20.

To begin with, Jakarta, the capital city which he has been governor of for just two years, is symbolic of the coming crunch-test of his leadership.

It is under threat of being overwhelmed by traffic gridlock and submerged by rising sea levels due to climate change.

Jakarta’s headaches epitomise Indonesia’s nationwide infrastructure problems – a major national shortcoming that the president-elect has promised to overcome. Tackling these effectively will help Indonesia’s most popular president since founding president Sukarno see through his first term.

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Last updated on 29/08/2014