Sutiyoso told to settle PDAM rift<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): An observer has warned Governor Sutiyoso to put
\nback on track the derailed water management deal between city
\nwater company PDAM Jaya and its two foreign partners.<\/p>\n
Muchamad Taufik, chairman of the Jakarta Study Center, told a
\nseminar on water management cooperation at the PDAM office in
\nCentral Jakarta on Monday that Sutiyoso might lose his
\ngovernorship if he did not resolve the situation quickly.<\/p>\n
\"There is a perception that Sutiyoso belittles the PDAM
\nworkers union's continuing protests. He should be careful because
\npeople can use the issue to show that the governor is unable to
\nhandle the case,\" said Taufik, also deputy chairman of the
\nJustice and Unity Party (PKP) Jakarta chapter.<\/p>\n
He said politicization of the case was indicated by the
\nnomination of Betawi (native Jakartans) public figure HM Sanif to
\nchallenge Sutiyoso as the next city governor. He said the workers
\nunion had clearly declared their support for Sanif.<\/p>\n
Taufik said Sutiyoso only needed to review the water
\nmanagement deal.<\/p>\n
\"Governor Sutiyoso only needs to decide whether to continue or
\nterminate the deal,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The water management deal signed in February last year with PT
\nThames Pam Jaya (TPJ) and PT Pam Lyonnaise Jaya (Palyja) has
\nrepeatedly been protested by scores of PDAM employees grouped in
\nthe Pam Jaya worker's union (SP Pam Jaya).<\/p>\n
Some officials, including Sutiyoso, have said the union
\nprotests were driven by the fact that they could no longer
\npractice \"dirty\" business, such as corruption and collusion. The
\nofficials also claim that the workers would be unable to maintain
\ntheir poor performance levels after the company was managed
\nprofessionally by foreign companies.<\/p>\n
The governor previously said he would not cancel the agreement
\nin a bid to avoid a lawsuit from the two foreign firms.<\/p>\n
Secretary of the Association of Indonesian Water Contractors
\nPoltak Situmorang, who was also present at the discussion, said
\nthe city administration would not be burdened with any
\nliabilities if it canceled the agreement.<\/p>\n
\"If we carefully read the agreement, there is no statement in
\nit saying that the administration is subjected to a penalty if
\nthe deal is canceled,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Other scheduled speakers, including Zoemrotin K. Soesilo from
\nthe Indonesian Consumers Foundation and Teten Masduki from the
\nIndonesian Corruption Watch failed to attend the discussion.
\n(ind)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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