'Festive anniversary won't improve our lives'<\/p>\n
Jakarta celebrates its 475th anniversary on Saturday. Slums, poor
\ngarbage management, traffic congestion, floods, indisciplined
\nresidents and corrupt bureaucrats still plague the city. Some
\nresidents share their hopes with The Jakarta Post of what kind of
\ncity they wish Jakarta would become.<\/p>\n
Nursyahbani Katjasungkana, 48, is a lawyer, women's activist,
\nmember of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) and vice
\ngovernor candidate.<\/p>\n
The city is for everyone, for the rich and the poor. So far,
\nit has been very cruel to disadvantaged people, favoring those
\nmore fortunate. In the future the city should be friendlier to
\nthe poor.<\/p>\n
Public participation in making public policy should also be
\nencouraged. So far, the administration, under military governors,
\nhas ignored the public by deciding its own policies.<\/p>\n
Lina Kartika, 30, a housewife and secretary at a private
\ncompany in Slipi, West Jakarta. Born in Jakarta, she lives in
\nPejompongan, Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
I was born here so I'm familiar with all the disorder. But
\njust the same, I don't think the city is an ideal place to live.<\/p>\n
Jakarta should be friendlier and more accessible for all
\nresidents. It appears that the city is only developed for the
\nwealthy. Sky-scrappers, comfortable apartments and hospitals, for
\nexample, are mainly developed to cater to the rich.<\/p>\n
The city administration should improve public services,
\nparticularly public transportation and housing. Otherwise, the
\ncity could turn into a giant slum.<\/p>\n
However, I doubt the administration will be able to accomplish
\nthis if it fails to eradicate the rampant corruption, collusion
\nand nepotism.<\/p>\n
Barman, 45, is a vendor at Tanah Abang market, Central
\nJakarta. He is an indigenous Jakartan who lives in Petamburan
\nsubdistrict, Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Jakarta's anniversary? When? I've been too busy with my
\nbusiness to earn money for my family and I forgot the city would
\ncelebrate its anniversary.<\/p>\n
Living here gets tougher every day and we must work harder to
\nsurvive.<\/p>\n
If you ask me about my hopes, one is that the leaders will
\nfocus more on poor people like me in the future. They should be
\nable to create more prosperity for their people, not for
\nthemselves.<\/p>\n
How festive they make the anniversary will mean nothing if
\nthere is no improvement in our welfare.<\/p>\n
R. Harijanto S., 47, is head of the Public Order Office in
\nMenteng district, Central Jakarta. He lives in Pondok Gede, East
\nJakarta, with his wife and four children.<\/p>\n
The city's anniversary hopefully will bring a better and
\nbrighter future. I really wish the people, mainly pedestrians and
\nstreet vendors, would be more knowledgeable about the city bylaw
\non discipline.<\/p>\n
The capital's atmosphere is totally chaotic. Most Jakartans
\nare self-centered and tend to be bad-tempered.<\/p>\n
If the city leaders started giving good examples in obeying
\nthe law, I think all people would respect the law enforcers,
\nincluding us.<\/p>\n
We realize that we risk our lives doing our job. We hope the
\npeople will uphold the law, which would improve our lives.
\nOtherwise, the discipline campaign will come to nothing despite
\nthe anniversary. -- JP<\/p>",
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