Sutiyoso keeps poor happy with cash<\/p>\n
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Beaming, Yudhi, in his 30s, a scavenger from Kemayoran, Central
\nJakarta, emerged from Governor Sutiyoso's official residence on
\nThursday holding a white envelope with a Rp 50,000 (some US$5)
\nbanknote inside it.<\/p>\n
\"It's really a surprise. I thought I would only get a free
\nmeal this year. What a happy Idul Fitri,\" said Yudhi, who was
\nclad in a worn-out T-shirt and shorts.<\/p>\n
Another visitor to the Governor's \"open house\" to celebrate
\nIdul Fitri with residents, Erik, 26, of Tanjung Priok, North
\nJakarta, could not believe that he and his three family members
\nhad each received an envelope.<\/p>\n
Stepping out of the Governor's residence on Jl. Taman
\nSuropati, Central Jakarta, he was eager to get more lebaran
\ngifts.<\/p>\n
\"Do you know any other officials who are holding Idul Fitri
\nopen houses today? Tell us, please. We want to go there.
\nHopefully, they will give us more angpau,\" he said, referring to
\nthe tradition of giving money in envelopes.<\/p>\n
Security guards spotted some people who had already received
\ntheir envelopes attempting to line up again.<\/p>\n
But not all came just for the money and a free meal. Some poor
\nresidents came to the event just to meet the governor.<\/p>\n
\"We live in Cikini in Central Jakarta. We just want to meet
\nPak Governor in person. I read in the newspapers that Pak
\nSutiyoso was holding an open house today. That's why we came
\nhere, to enjoy a silaturahmi with him,\" said Rudi, alluding to
\nthe tradition of paying visits to neighbors.<\/p>\n
More than 300 poor residents from across the city visited
\nSutiyoso's official residence on Thursday.<\/p>\n
\"I am happy that they are willing to come to see me. I want
\nthem to feel that I am also close to them. It's touching the way
\nthey shook my hand. It's rather different from the way other
\ndistinguished guests greet me,\" Sutiyoso told reporters during
\nthe gathering.<\/p>\n
He said that some residents had also passed on letters to him.<\/p>\n
\"I will read them later. Maybe those letters contain
\ncomplaints or messages of support for my administration ... I
\npromise to hold gatherings like this more often with the poor in
\nthe near future,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The governor's household staff had prepared meals for about
\n1,600 guests.<\/p>\n
However, Sutiyoso's aides seemed unprepared for the poor, who
\nmixed with other guests, including businesspeople, party leaders,
\nreligious figures, actors, diplomats and officials.<\/p>\n
\"We didn't think there would be so many poor people coming,\"
\nacknowledged Joko, one of Sutiyoso's aides.<\/p>\n
Last year, only about 20 'representatives' of the poor,
\ndrafted in by the administration, visited Sutiyoso's home for the
\nopen-house event.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso, who is serving his second term, has gained notoriety
\nfor his tough policies against the poor, such as riverbank
\nsquatters and street hawkers.<\/p>\n
Also present at the gathering were former minister of foreign
\naffairs Ali Alatas, president of Indian Bajaj Auto Limited for
\nSouth East Asia, Klaus Biskup, jazz musician Ireng Maulana, well-
\nknown singer Melky Guslow, actor Anwar Fuadi and businessman
\nErick Tohir.<\/p>\n
After the one-day open house, Sutiyoso departed for his
\nhometown of Semarang, Central Java, on Friday to celebrate Idul
\nFitri with friends and relatives there.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sutiyoso-keeps-poor-happy-with-cash-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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