'New fountain a waste of money'<\/p>\n
The city administration spent Rp 14 billion (US$1.6 million)
\non renovating the water fountain at the Hotel Indonesia traffic
\ncircle to commemorate the city's 475th anniversary. Governor
\nSutiyoso has also called on the public to stop staging rallies at
\nthe traffic circle. What do members of the public have to say
\nabout it?<\/p>\n
Hermanto, 35, is an employee at a private company in Kota,
\nCentral Jakarta. He lives in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
How can the administration spend so much money on a cosmetic
\nproject? Our leaders must realize there are still many unemployed
\npeople in the city, so I think the money would have been more
\nusefully spent on creating jobs.<\/p>\n
As a resident, I'm proud of having a beautiful statue with a
\nbeautiful fountain. If the nation's economy was prospering than
\nthe construction of such project would be welcomed. But at such a
\ntime of crisis, surely there are far more urgent issues and
\nprojects that need to be done first?<\/p>\n
I hope that in future our leaders could be a little bit more
\nsensitive to how most Jakartans feel.<\/p>\n
Ridwan, 23, activist of the Betawi (Jakarta native) Student
\nAssociation. He lives in Kampung Melayu, East Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The renovation of the traffic circle fountain is a waste of
\nmoney. The money would be more usefully spent helping out street
\nvendors.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso is now trying to ban rallies at the traffic circle.
\nHe has tried to create an image, maybe in front of President
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri, that he can improve security in the city.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso needs to be seen favorably by the President to be
\nreelected at the next gubernatorial election.<\/p>\n
We, students, reject the reelection of Sutiyoso because of his
\nattempts to suppress democracy by banning people from conducting
\nrallies at the traffic circle.<\/p>\n
Ponco Suprihandoko, who comes from Salatiga, Central Java, is
\na marketing officer at a noted cigarette company. He has been
\nliving in the city for seven years with his two kids and wife in
\nLenteng Agung, South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The traffic circle fountain is far from being spectacular. I
\nwould have thought Rp 14 billion spent on its renovation could
\nhave created something a little more extraordinary.<\/p>\n
What is it really for? Perhaps it's just to boost the city's
\nprestige? But, who really cares about that?<\/p>\n
It would have been far more worthwhile to spend the money on
\nrehousing the city's evicted squatters. That's a real problem for
\nJakarta and the city administration to deal with and solve.<\/p>\n
The costly renovation of the fountain won't improve poor
\npeople's lives, which, of course, should have been the
\nadministration's priority.<\/p>\n
Reyza Pribadi, 32, a councillor at a communication firm on Jl.
\nJend. Sudirman, Central Jakarta, has been living in the city for
\n10 years.<\/p>\n
I see no difference between the old and the new fountain. I
\nthought it would be better than the old one as it was reported
\nthat the administration had spent Rp 14 billion to renovate it.<\/p>\n
It's a waste of money and at the same time it reflects how the
\ngovernor has no sense of crisis.<\/p>\n
The city faces a lot of social problems, which requires a lot
\nof money to solve them. What about rehousing evicted squatters,
\nfor example, or creating more job opportunities? But, the
\nadministration's response is to spend money on renovating a
\nfountain.<\/p>\n
I can only say the administration is not serious in solving
\nthe city's social problems. -- JP<\/p>",
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