Sutiyoso gives subdistricts flood funds<\/p>\n
Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
City Governor Sutiyoso presented Rp 50 million (US$4,900) in
\naid to each of the 167 flood-hit subdistrict councils (Dekel)
\nacross the city on Tuesday but the questions of accountability
\nand the mechanism to be used in disbursing the funds remained
\nunresolved.<\/p>\n
Heads of the Dekel were divided over the two issues.<\/p>\n
The Dekel head of Kebon Bawang subdistrict, North Jakarta,
\nKosim Khotib, said that the Dekel itself would probably be
\naccountable for the use of the funds.<\/p>\n
\"I haven't received any specific instructions from the city
\nadministration on the accountability or the implementation. The
\ngovernor only told us to use the aid for emergencies such as for
\npublic toilets. So maybe it is up to us to use the aid as we see
\nfit\", he said.<\/p>\n
The same uncertainty was voiced by Karno, the Dekel head of
\nPademangan Barat, North Jakarta. \"We don't know yet what we'll
\nspend the money on as our area was not badly affected by the
\nrecent floods,\" he said. \"Maybe we'll use the aid for cleaning up
\nthe gutters, I don't know, we haven't decided yet.\"<\/p>\n
Concerning the issue of accountability, Karno said that he
\nwould appoint one of the Dekel members to supervise the use of
\nthe money as there had been no formal instructions from the
\nadministration.<\/p>\n
A more moderate argument on the mechanism came from Gumin Has,
\nthe head of Srengseng Sawah Dekel in South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"Money is a sensitive matter, so I would like to see the
\nparticipation of the residents and all the chiefs of the
\ndistrict, subdistrict and neighborhood units in supervising the
\nmoney, so that no irregularities occur,\" said Gumin.<\/p>\n
Heryanto, the subdistrict chief of Mampang Prapatan, South
\nJakarta, whose area was still submerged by floodwaters, said that
\nhe had no idea whatsoever about the aid, as it was the
\nresponsibility of the Dekel.<\/p>\n
\"From what I've been told at the meeting with the governor on
\nMonday, the Dekel has full responsibility for the implementation
\nmechanism and accountability. Both the subdistrict and district
\nchief only act as observers. I think the city Supervision Agency
\nwill oversee the use of the funds,\" said Heryanto.<\/p>\n
Dekel or Dewan Kelurahan is a kind of subdistrict legislative
\nbody consisting of 7 to 10 people depending on the number of
\nneighborhood units in each subdistrict.<\/p>\n
The Dekel members, who each have a monthly salary of Rp
\n500,000, are elected by each subdistrict's residents.<\/p>\n
The Dekel members are usually people from various backgrounds,
\neven unemployed residents and thugs.<\/p>\n
The formation of the body, which was reinstated in 2001, was
\nbased on the City Bylaw No.5\/2000.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Teten Masduki of the Indonesian Corruption Watch
\n(ICW) said he suspected the funds could be used to campaign for
\nthe strengthening of Sutiyoso's political base.<\/p>\n
\"The aid campaign is dangerous as its accountability is
\nuncertain. Moreover, the distribution of the state money could
\ncause corruption,\" Teten said.<\/p>\n
Teten added that the city administration's decision to provide
\nfunds of the same amount to each subdistrict, regardless of their
\nlevel of damage, was just irrational.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sutiyoso-gives-subdistricts-flood-funds-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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