'I don't really care who leads the city'<\/p>\n
Governor Sutiyoso and Deputy Governor Fauzi Bowo have been
\ninaugurated and have begun serving their five-year terms, but
\nmany residents told The Jakarta Post that they just don't care.<\/p>\n
Mira, 37, a textile shop worker in Mayestik market, South
\nJakarta. She comes from Surabaya, East Java, and now lives in
\nCiledug, South Jakarta, with her four children and husband:<\/p>\n
I have heard people talking about, what's his name, Sutiyoso.
\nTo tell you the truth, I'm apathetic about who governs the city.<\/p>\n
I don't really know anything about him, so can you tell me the
\ntruth about Sutiyoso and who he is?<\/p>\n
I mean, it doesn't really matter anyway. In my experience,
\nJakarta is always unsafe, no matter who the governor is.<\/p>\n
Besides, do you think that poor people like me can do anything
\nto make the city better, to turn it around? And do you think the
\ngovernor can do anything? I don't think so.<\/p>\n
Basically, I'm of the opinion that the best and safest thing
\nto do is to just go about my work so I can survive.<\/p>\n
Anto, 24, a former security guard at Plaza Senayan, he now
\nworks as a sidewalk vendor selling magazines and newspapers. He
\nlives in Radio Dalam, South Jakarta:<\/p>\n
What am I, an ordinary person, supposed to do about the
\nreelection of Governor Sutiyoso? It wouldn't make sense to try to
\noppose him because that wouldn't benefit me. I'll just stay
\nimpartial.<\/p>\n
He was reelected because the corrupt city councillors chose
\nhim. The wishes of the people were ignored.<\/p>\n
He won the election because of the invisible, powerful
\nsupport given to him by middle-class people with lucrative
\nbusinesses. So Sutiyoso's reelection was only supported by a
\nsmall percentage of the middle class who had a personal interest
\nin seeing him serve a second term. .<\/p>\n
I think the protesters who rallied in support or opposition to
\nhim were paid to do so. It's no longer support or opposition that
\nbrings people out, it's only money that can move them.<\/p>\n
It's better for me to concentrate on how to earn enough money
\nto survive. That's more realistic, isn't it?<\/p>\n
Mamat, 50, a chauffeur for 12 years. The native Jakartan lives
\nin Pondok Gede, East Jakarta, with his wife and two children:<\/p>\n
In my opinion, anyone who volunteers for a leadership position
\nis motivated by selfish reasons. So their promises to side with
\nthe people are rubbish. This includes Governor Sutiyoso.<\/p>\n
I don't think he will do anything to help the city's residents
\nduring his second term.<\/p>\n
That's why I don't care about what's going on in the city. I'm
\nfed up with all the disgusting political conspiracies among high-
\nranking officials.<\/p>\n
They are all greedy leaders. Their main concerns are being
\nable to afford expensive cars, sending their children abroad to
\nstudy and above all securing their positions.<\/p>\n
What I have to do is just work patiently and honestly so me
\nand my family can survive.<\/p>\n
Hoping for good governance and credible leaders is a waste of
\ntime these days.<\/p>\n
Jack, 35, sells gado-gado along Jl. Dharmawangsa, South
\nJakarta. The father of two comes from Lampung:<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso was just so eager to be reelected, despite his poor
\nperformance during his first term.<\/p>\n
He should have stepped down in response to the massive
\nopposition from city residents.<\/p>\n
I cannot imagine what will happen to the city in the future.<\/p>\n
As a poor man, I'm of the opinion that there is no need for
\npeople to hold rallies to protest against Sutiyoso. We're the
\nones who will suffer the consequences because the rallies will
\ncome to nothing. It's all in vain.<\/p>\n
Let's just see how things shape up under his leadership.
\nThat's the most practical thing we can do now.<\/p>\n
-- Leo Wahyudi S<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/i-dont-really-care-who-leads-the-city-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }