REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) said that the policy to cut fuel subsidies and control energy consumption would start with reducing the use of lights in the Jakarta Presidential Palace complex. "The Presidential Institution Complex, in contrast to the previous day, had switched off a lot of lights," he declared on Wednesday.

The president cited examples of electricity saving implemented by the Japanese government in the difficult period after World War II as well as when the country was struck by the tsunami disaster in 2010. "Tokyo was very dark at night; only two buildings had their lights on -the prime minister`s office and high rank officials. They worked hard to restore Japan`s economy; that`s what I heard," he remarked.

He added that when he visited Japan in 2011, after the tsunami had struck, the country was facing a power shortage. "When I met with Prime Minister Naoto Kan and the Emperor, they said the lights were on only in important places."

The head of state asserted that Indonesia should follow Japan`s example, especially when facing a crisis. On Tuesday, he unveiled the government`s five-pronged approach to cutting fuel subsidies and controlling energy consumption.

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