Jakarta to fully implement regional autonomy in 2002<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Despite the inception of regional autonomy on
\nJan. 1, the agenda will practically take effect in the capital
\nonly next year at the earliest, an official said on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Head of City Subdistricts Administration Office Koesnan A.
\nHalim told The Jakarta Post that the city administration was
\nstill preparing various procedures needed to adequately execute
\nthe regional autonomy, including those related to the takeover of
\nsome central government assets.<\/p>\n
He hinted the city administration office had yet to complete
\nreorganizing its organizational structure to accommodate the
\ntransfer of authority from the central government.<\/p>\n
"We are still drafting changes to the existing structure (of
\nthe city administration office). The draft will be proposed to
\nthe City Council this month," said Koesnan.<\/p>\n
He said the changes would include the dissolution of several
\ncity offices, considered ineffective in accommodating regional
\nautonomy.<\/p>\n
"The structural changes should have been made before the draft
\ncity budget of 2001 was endorsed if regional autonomy was to be
\nimplemented now," he said.<\/p>\n
The City Council approved on Dec. 30 the Rp 7.49 trillion
\nbudget proposed by the city administration in a plenary session
\nmarred by a walk-out of the Indonesian Democratic Party of
\nStruggle faction members.<\/p>\n
When asked about the effort to take over some state assets in
\nthe capital, Koesnan said Governor Sutiyoso and many top city
\nofficials had repeatedly asked the central government to release
\nthe properties.<\/p>\n
"So far we haven't had any response. It seems the central
\ngovernment remains reluctant to hand over assets to the city
\nadministration," Koesnan said.<\/p>\n
"However, we pledge to continue with direct approaches to the
\nState Secretariat and each private institution managing the
\nassets."<\/p>\n
The money-making assets, mostly recreational parks, toll roads
\nand important public facilities, are currently managed by the
\ncentral government through the State Secretariat and private
\ninstitutions.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the city administration office is still completing
\nthe inventory of the assets, among others, Tanjung Priok seaport
\nin North Jakarta, Kemayoran business center in Central Jakarta
\nand the Indonesia in Miniature Park in East Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Koesnan said, the central government had a different
\nperception about the takeover, saying that several properties
\nshould be managed according to national standards, including the
\nSenayan sports complex and exhibition hall, the country's
\nlargest.<\/p>\n
"We are capable to manage such assets, because we have
\nsufficient human resources," claimed Koesnan.<\/p>\n
Koesnan said the city administration would propose a
\nmanagement-sharing scheme with the central government regarding
\nthese businesses.<\/p>\n
Under the scheme, the city administration would hold the
\nauthority to issue building construction permits (IMB) and apply
\ncity regulations on parking and local spatial planning of an
\narea.<\/p>\n
"Not all aspects of the businesses will be managed by the city
\nadministration. We will discuss the sharing arrangement further,
\nbut it is important that current operators of these assets
\nacknowledge our existence as the host of the capital," he added.<\/p>\n
Koesnan, however, denied allegations that the city
\nadministration had a strong desire for huge revenues from the
\nassets.<\/p>\n
"Managing such assets doesn't mean that the city will always
\nreap profits. We have also committed to deal with the debts and
\npossible losses," said Koesnan.(07)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jakarta-to-fully-implement-regional-autonomy-in-2002-1447893297",
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