Sutiyoso wants to outdo Susilo with radio program<\/p>\n
Damar Harsanto
\nThe Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
While President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has offered his cell
\nphone numbers as a means of keeping in touch with the public, his
\nsenior in the Army, Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso, said on Monday he
\nwould rather make his services available through a radio show.<\/p>\n
\"I have long instructed my subordinates to establish a hotline
\nvia the radio so that I could listen and talk to residents while
\nthey were driving ... But, I am very disappointed that my
\nsubordinates have been too slow in following up the idea,\"
\nSutiyoso told The Jakarta Post and Trijaya radio station at City
\nHall.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso said he was interested in direct communications and
\nwas eager to receive calls, particularly complaints or criticism
\nfrom residents about corrupt officials.<\/p>\n
\"I am sure that I would be able to encourage public input at a
\ngreater rate than merely awaiting my subordinates' reports,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"As long as the criticism is constructive and clear, I will
\nfollow it up. Otherwise, I will certainly ignore it,\" he
\nconfided.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso is no stranger to talk shows, having hosted the Bang
\nYos Show, which was aired by private television station Lativi
\nevery Tuesday last year.<\/p>\n
In the program, Sutiyoso invited Jakarta residents to discuss
\nreal issues faced by city communities, such as transportation and
\nhealth problems.<\/p>\n
City spokesman Catur Laswanto said the program had been
\ndropped, but fell short of explaining the reason for its
\ntermination.<\/p>\n
\"We plan to cooperate with another private TV station to make
\na similar program,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Critics have called the program a waste of taxpayers' money,
\nsaying it only served the governor's interests.<\/p>\n
A radio producer with a private radio station in Kebon Jeruk,
\nWest Jakarta, Yudhi Damar, has welcomed Sutiyoso's plan.<\/p>\n
\"I think most private radio stations, including my station,
\nwould be willing to allocate a regular free-of-charge slot for
\nthe governor to talk to the residents,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Currently, Sutiyoso's administration provides a mail box, PO
\nBOX 0008, to which the public can send complaints or reports. The
\nmail box is managed by the City Audit Agency (Bawasda).<\/p>\n
However, whether the mail box is fulfilling its function as a
\ndirect link to the governor is anyone's guess, as reports on its
\neffectiveness are pending.<\/p>",
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