'Sutiyoso? I don't think I like him'<\/p>\n
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Governor Sutiyoso's five-year term will end in October. Despite
\nwidespread criticism of his failure to handle various urban
\nproblems, including garbage disposal, flood control and the
\npractice of corruption, collusion and nepotism, Sutiyoso survived
\nlast week's accountability speech. This gives him a chance to be
\nnominated for a second term.<\/p>\n
Many things have happened during Sutiyoso's tenure, which
\nobviously have affected people's lives. For the next month, The
\nJakarta Post will run this column to take a look at what
\nJakartans have to say about Sutiyoso.<\/p>\n
Erlangga, 50, is a high school graduate who lives in Setiabudi
\nsubdistrict, South Jakarta, and works as an ojek (pedicab)
\ndriver. He was born in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, and has
\nbeen living in the city since the 1970s.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso, eh? I don't think I like him. I can't even recall
\nwhat he has been done for the residents here. As far as I know,
\nhe hates poor people such as street vendors. He has raids
\nconducted on them periodically to evict them without giving them
\nproper alternatives.<\/p>\n
He favors the interests of the rich, I guess. I have never
\nseen the city administration evicting the rich.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso has not done his best to improve the city. My life
\nhas become more difficult under his administration. It's not easy
\n4to get work for a better life. All that I can do now is just
\nsurvive, to feed my family of four children.<\/p>\n
I like (former governor) Ali Sadikin better than Sutiyoso. The
\nconditions during his term were different, of course. But life
\nwas easier at that time (in the 1970s). I could still save some
\nmoney. Now, it's impossible.<\/p>\n
Choiri, 60, is an elementary school graduate who lives in Kebon
\nKacang, Central Jakarta, and works as a sidewalk vendor, in Tanah
\nAbang, Central Jakarta. He was born in Mojokerto, East Jakarta,
\nand moved to the city in the 1960s.<\/p>\n
I don't know him. I have no idea what to say ... Oh, yeah ...
\nhe is the governor! He is not good, not good.<\/p>\n
The administration did not help me when I became an evacuee
\nduring the recent floods. I have no family and my rented room was
\nflooded. Someone helped me during the flood. No officials helped,
\nnot even the subdistrict chief.<\/p>\n
There is no significant improvement in my life during his term
\nof office.
\nI am still a sidewalk vendor years after I entered the business
\nin 1973. I was raided several times that's why I have no savings.
\nPublic order officers conducted the raid.<\/p>\n
I only know Ali Sadikin. Sutiyoso is worse than him. At that
\ntime, I could still feed my family, my wife and child. But now, I
\nam divorced and my child has died, I have to work my best to feed
\nmyself.<\/p>\n
Sukur, 31, is a vocational school graduate who lives in Kebayoran
\nLama, South Jakarta, and works as a parking attendant, in Slipi,
\nWest Jakarta. He was born in Kebumen, Central Java, and has lived
\nin Jakarta since 1991.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso is not bad, apart from the evictions he has had
\nconducted against the poor and street vendors. I can't say
\nwhether I like him or I hate him.<\/p>\n
He probably has done his job but probably not his best. And of
\ncourse, he must have made some mistakes. People blamed him for
\nthe recent floods, I know. But I think it was the negligence of
\nprevious governors as well.<\/p>\n
My life is much the same as it was before he was installed as
\ngovernor. I was a parking attendant 10 years ago and I still am
\nnow, although I have a vocational school diploma.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso has had no remarkable achievements, as far as I know.
\nPublic transportation is still awful, medical treatment is still
\nexpensive, education is a luxury.<\/p>\n
He is just like his predecessors. They are all the same. No
\nfavors for the needy. What can I say?<\/p>",
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