JAKARTA, (Reuters) – Indonesia’s voters handed  President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono a second five-year term yesterday, placing their faith in his firm hand on the economic  tiller and his promises to quicken the pace of reform.

Officials results from the election will not be announced  until later this month, but “quick count” results — which have  proved extremely reliable in the past — showed Yudhoyono had  won enough votes to avoid a second run-off with his nearest  rival.

Not known for jumping to a conclusion, even the cautious  Yudhoyono acknowledged his own resounding victory as the  results rolled in from across the archipelago of 226 million  people.

“My first priority will be recovering our economy,” the  former army general told reporters at his home after a peaceful  and low-key day of voting in the world’s third-largest  democracy.

The LSI polling agency’s sample of votes showed Yudhoyono’s  tally stood at a commanding 60.82 percent. Other counts put his  score slightly lower, but all showed him comfortably above the  halfway mark needed to avoid a second round.

The election, only the second direct vote for a president  in Indonesia, cements the country’s transition to democracy  after a chequered history. It is also likely to usher in an  acceleration of reforms in Southeast Asia’s biggest economy  that could lure foreign investment, create jobs and shore up  flagging growth.