Sutiyoso says he is ready to resign<\/p>\n
Annastashya Emmanuelle, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Governor Sutiyoso has been showered with attacks by critics who
\nsay that his administration's incompetence and empty promises
\nhave led to major crises -- involving garbage and flooding -- for
\nJakarta's residents recently.<\/p>\n
Despite the fact that flooding has become critical problem in
\nthe capital on an annual basis, he refused to shoulder any blame
\n-- pointing instead to things like Jakarta's low-lying position,
\nor people who reside along river banks.<\/p>\n
He has also come under fire for ignoring the administration's
\npoor city planning which has resulted in damaged drainage
\nconditions, and uncollected garbage.<\/p>\n
Many feel his words merely rub salt on open wounds. There is
\nnot much the administration could do to prevent flooding, he has
\nsaid, as any serious flooding prevention measures -- such as
\nbuilding a canal -- would require too much money.<\/p>\n
He has failed to mention the fact that only 40 percent of the
\nmoney for a major flood-control project, for which Rp 249 billion
\n(about US$24 million) was allocated in the year 2000, has so far
\nbeen spent.<\/p>\n
Regarding this year's flooding, Sutiyoso chose to blame the
\nfive-year weather cycle, saying catastrophe was inevitable.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso, a former Jakarta Military Commander, denied that he
\nresponded too late to the latest calamity.<\/p>\n
\"I have ordered my staff to be on flood alert ... we all
\nstayed at the office last night,\" he said Thursday.<\/p>\n
But he claimed that he was willing to resign from his post
\nowing to his administration's failures in handling big flooding
\nin the last four days under one condition -- it be done in
\naccordance with regulations.<\/p>\n
\"If people want me to resign, it won't be a problem at all, as
\nlong as it's done based on the current mechanism.\"<\/p>\n
Jakartans responded enthusiastically.<\/p>\n
Amir Busroh, for one, said that he would like to see Sutiyoso
\nstep down.<\/p>\n
\"I'm tired of hearing the administration's promises ... none
\nso far have materialized,\" said the 30-year-old resident of Jl.
\nArus, Cawang, East Jakarta; his house was completely submerged by
\nfloodwaters.<\/p>\n
Amir said that, several days prior to the flooding, City
\nPublic Order Agency officials held a flood relief training
\nprogram in his area.<\/p>\n
\"Don't worry,\" Amir quoted the officers as saying, \"everything
\nwill be alright if flooding comes to this area; we will provide
\nall the necessary help.\"<\/p>\n
When the water began to rise, none showed up.<\/p>\n
\"They said they would ring a siren to alert us -- but I
\nsuppose we should have known better than to trust them,\" Amir
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Adrian, 22, of Bukit Duri, South Jakarta, said that he would
\norganize his neighbors to stage a rally after the flood to demand
\nSutiyoso's resignation.<\/p>\n
Similar complaints were voiced by Rahati, an evacuee of
\nPetamburan subdistrict, West Jakarta. She said Sutiyoso must
\nresign because the administration had completely failed both in
\npreventing the flooding and helping its victims.<\/p>\n
\"Since the flooding began three days ago, no officials have
\nbothered to come to help us -- even to give us a carton of
\nnoodles,\" she complained bitterly.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sutiyoso-says-he-is-ready-to-resign-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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