"Let us tell things in balance covering their good and bad sides, pluses and minuses, those already and those not yet achieved for the nation to be able to reflect objectively and then do more and better," the president said.
Manado, N Sulawesi (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono called on the country`s press here on Monday to present balanced reports about situation in the country.

"Let us tell things in balance covering their good and bad sides, pluses and minuses, those already and those not yet achieved for the nation to be able to reflect objectively and then do more and better," the President said in his speech at the 27th National Press Day.

President Yudhoyono said the press has the moral responsibility to criticize and correct the course of the nation as well as the government and its institutions and officials.

He admitted that there were still a lot of things that had not yet been achieved such as corruption eradication, eradication of conflicts in regions and licensing at regional levels.

"I heard about them all. I hope all institutions and officials would also be aware of them and use them as inputs to improve management of state affairs, government operations across the country. Please be critical, objectively," he said.

President Yudhoyono however also reminded the press of its obligation to build optimism and national confidence, telling that besides shortages and failures a lot has also been achieved since the financial crisis 15 years ago.

He said the country`s success (to emerge from the crisis 15 years ago) has been praised from by foreign press as well as international community although the press at home has often reported the opposite so far.

Citing other achievement that has been made by the country President Yudhoyono referred to the country`s economic growth that reached above six percent in the midst of global economic slowdown and uncertainty.

He said the growth was the world`s second highest after that of China. Foreign presses and the international community has often praised the achievement but regretfully the domestic press has often reported the opposite, he added.

"By being reported that way people would certainly think that our economy has been static and did not grow or even declined," he said.

President Yudhoyono also deplored that the country`s reform and transition to democracy which has kept improving and become more solid after the 1998 crisis had often been reported contrary to it by the domestic press while many parties have praised it and would like to learn it.

He said the country`s security and stability has also been relatively maintained. "It is us who have always said that our security and political conditions are bad," he said.

In view of that, he said he hoped the press would be willing to report both the positive and negative sides objectively and factually because unless they would do it people would be confused and wonder why international parties including foreign parties who are very critical had praised the country for what it had achieved.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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