Administration to maintain current policy next year<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Governor Surjadi Soedirja has confirmed that
\nnext year the municipal administration will continue its efforts
\nto enforce regulations in the city's development process.<\/p>\n
\"The city administration will consistently continue its
\nprogram to enforce the regulations despite strong criticism that
\nthe policy is inhumane, because the program is aimed at helping
\npeople to get a better life in the metropolis,\" Surjadi said
\nyesterday at a year's end press conference held to review the
\nadministration's work in 1994.<\/p>\n
He explained that it is not fair for people to call
\nenforcement of the law inhumane because it is part of an overall
\neffort to provide a better environment and living standards for
\nall Jakartans.<\/p>\n
Surjadi said that land appropriation, which has been
\ncriticized as inhumane, is one of many efforts to eliminate slum
\nareas and relocate squatters who live along river banks to
\nhealthier housing complexes or apartments.<\/p>\n
He said the slum problem is basically caused by the ever
\ngrowing population of the 65,000-hectare city. Most people who
\ncome to Jakarta are undereducated and poorly skilled. This forces
\nthem to work in the informal sectors, which do not provide them
\nenough income to readily afford homes in proper residential
\ndistricts.<\/p>\n
There are bow 15,000 street vendors officially registered in
\nthe capital.<\/p>\n
\"Through training programs we are trying to increase their
\nskills,\" Surjadi added.<\/p>\n
Surjadi acknowledged that it is difficult to avoid negative
\nimpacts in the development process. He emphasized that he always
\nrequires his officials to avoid conflicts and to deal with people
\npatiently.<\/p>\n
\"Negative impacts can happen, but this will not stop the
\nenforcement of regulations,\" Surjadi said.<\/p>\n
He pointed out that the city administration is facing a
\ndilemma in executing its programs: People will accuse the
\nadministration of being inconsistent if it changes its policy,
\nbut on the other hand, they will accuse it of being inhumane if
\nit continues its current programs.<\/p>\n
\"I know this policy is unpopular, but the show must go on,\"
\nSurjadi said.<\/p>\n
He explained that despite the criticism this year, there have
\nbeen improvements in the population, transportation, housing,
\ninformal sector, social and public facility situations.<\/p>\n
\"As result of development, the city's GNP is US$1,700 this
\nyear, while nationally it is $600,\" Surjadi said, adding that the
\nlife expectancy rate in the city is also the highest in Indonesia;
\n68 years old for women and 63 for men.<\/p>\n
Surjadi also explained that satisfactory results have been
\nachieved in efforts to provide social and public facilities,
\nalthough the administration has had to force real estate developers
\nto provide the facilities.<\/p>\n
He said that the achievement reflects the hard work and
\ndiscipline shown by the city's personnel in serving the people,
\nalthough some violations of the law occurred.<\/p>\n
Surjadi said he expected a high level of achievement again next
\nyear and hoped that the people are ready to support the
\nadministration's program to make Jakarta a \"service city\", with the
\nmunicipal administration providing facilities for the plan.<\/p>\n
The governor urged Jakartans to be able to learn from this
\nyear's experiences and to increase their discipline for higher
\nachievements. (yns)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/administration-to-maintain-current-policy-next-year-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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