'The powerful always break promises'<\/p>\n
Most of Jakarta's public transportation drivers have been having
\nit tough lately, especially since the government instituted its
\npolicy of regularly raising fuel prices. The situation is
\nexacerbated by the notorious congestion all over the city. They
\ntold The Jakarta Post recently about their opinions of Governor
\nSutiyoso and his achievements while in office.<\/p>\n
Solekun, 37, is an elementary school graduate who resides in
\nTanah Abang, Central Jakarta. He has been driving bajaj (three-
\nwheeled motorized vehicle) for over 12 years. He was born in
\nTegal, Central Java, and has lived in Jakarta since 1982.<\/p>\n
Speaking about the Jakarta governor, to be honest I don't
\nreally care who the next one is, whether it's Sutiyoso,
\nAbdurrahman Wahid or even Megawati Soekarnoputri herself.<\/p>\n
I don't know any of them in person. All I know is that these
\nkinds of powerful people always break their promises to look
\nafter the poor.<\/p>\n
During campaigning, they always vow to side with the poor. But
\nwhen they reach the top, they forget all about the common people
\nwho elected them.<\/p>\n
I don't care if Sutiyoso retires. I don't care if someone else
\nbecomes the governor. It's no big deal.<\/p>\n
The only thing I know is that I still have to cope somehow
\nwith the rocketing prices of basic commodities, including the
\nbajaj rental fee of Rp 26,000 a day. I also still have to feed my
\nwife and three children in Tegal.<\/p>\n
Trisno, 47, is also an elementary school graduate from Tegal,
\nCentral Java. Having moved to Jakarta in 1973 to work as a
\nminibus driver, he now lives in Pondok Karya, Mampang, South
\nJakarta, with some acquaintances. His wife and four children are
\nstill in Tegal.<\/p>\n
Don't ask me about politics, I don't know anything about it!<\/p>\n
I think Pak Sutiyoso has not done well as he didn't give any
\nhelp to the flood victims, including myself. The aid that we
\nreceived came from President Megawati Soekarnoputri, but
\ndefinitely not Sutiyoso.<\/p>\n
I think the previous governors were much better, like Pak
\nWiyogo Atmodarminto, who was very concerned about the poor. We
\nused to have lots of opportunities for work, more passengers and
\nwe could save some money as prices were not as crazy as they are
\ntoday.<\/p>\n
Life is getting more difficult now. Fuel prices have gone up
\nagain, meaning we have to pay even more for our rental fee.<\/p>\n
Crime has also increased and is now uncontrollable.<\/p>\n
Panut, not his real name, 30, comes from Semarang. Leaving
\nhigh school in Jakarta in 1985, Panut, who has worked as a taxi
\ndriver for seven years, now lives in Srengseng Sawah, South
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
Talking about Sutiyoso is like discussing something unpleasant
\nto Panut.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso is undisciplined, he can't govern or impose order on
\nthe city.<\/p>\n
Look at the streets and traditional markets where lots of
\nstreet vendors cause so much traffic congestion. It's because he
\nhas failed to handle the city's disorder and reduce street crime.<\/p>\n
The terrible traffic makes life harder. I can hardly earn any
\nmoney when the jams start. The public order office must take
\nfirm action against the unruly vendors.<\/p>\n
I'm so ashamed every time I drive foreign tourists from the
\nairport to their hotels when they see the poor state of the city
\nand the slums.<\/p>\n
I don't care who wins. Whoever it is, though, must be
\nconcerned about the poor. -- JP<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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