What is the greatest problem affecting Jakarta today?<\/p>\n
Jakarta turns 476 today, growing much too fast for some who
\ncannot keep up with its pace and too slowly for those intent on
\nhurtling along in the fast lane.<\/p>\n
It's the dream city of migrants from other areas of the
\ncountry, but it can end up as their own living hell. Monumental
\nproblems -- traffic congestion, pollution, crime, inadequate
\nhousing -- plague the city and its people.<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post interviewed residents to find out what they
\nconsider the greatest problem besetting the city, and what must
\nbe done to remedy the situation to improve the quality of life
\nfor us all.<\/p>\n
Gozali, 52, taxi driver, a native Jakartan born in Pasar
\nRumput, South Jakarta:<\/p>\n
I think security is the most critical problem in Jakarta and
\none that has to be solved right away. As a taxi driver, I'm
\nreluctant to drive at night because thugs and criminals are
\neverywhere, especially at street junctions.<\/p>\n
You never know if one of your passengers intends to kill you.
\nTaxi drivers have become overly cautious now because we never
\nknow when we could lose our lives.<\/p>\n
Of course, it has a real impact on our income because we avoid
\nnight shifts.<\/p>\n
So, if I had the authority, I would make sure this city is
\nsafe enough so everyone can be more productive. To achieve that,
\nI might have to tap the consciousness of the people in the city.
\nI would push them to care more about others' rights and most of
\nall to comply with the rule of law, which has been taken for
\ngranted for quite some time.<\/p>\n
Nursyahbani Katjasungkana, 49, activist, legal expert and
\nlegislator, Jakarta-born of mixed Betawi-Madurese descent:<\/p>\n
One of the (answers) to the myriad problems faced by Jakarta
\nlies in the hands of its local government, for they don't have
\nthe sensibility to respond to what the people say and they don't
\nhave a clear vision. They still hold on to the old paradigm.<\/p>\n
I don't see any changes from one governor to another. No
\nreform was done before or even after reform (the end of the
\nSoeharto regime).<\/p>\n
The local government is ... not proactive. They are still
\nstuck in the old paradigm -- top-down projects and not projects
\nor programs based on the real problems or reality of its people.<\/p>\n
I was born in Jakarta and feel myself to be Jakartan because
\nmy mother is Betawi. But it's too bad this city has never been my
\nfavorite place to live. I live in Bogor and am greeted by the
\nperennial traffic jams after leaving the toll road.<\/p>\n
Here we just have too many problems.<\/p>\n
However, we cannot just solve the problems by changing the
\nleadership and its face, or electing new councilors.<\/p>\n
We need an unabridged package of leadership with a vision and
\nmission, as well as the right approach. That's why I decided to
\nrun for vice governor candidate last year because I think I have
\nthe vision and mission for people's welfare and for the reform of
\nthe internal office in the Jakarta administration.<\/p>\n
Maro'ah, 28, a housemaid from Tegal, Central Java, who has been
\nliving in Jakarta for about 15 years:<\/p>\n
The biggest problem is traffic jams. The terrible congestion
\noften forces me to stay put in my small rented house even though
\nI want to go shopping or watch dangdut (an Indian-Arab derived
\npopular music) at the complex of state-own television station
\nTVRI.<\/p>\n
I consider the traffic jams the biggest problem in the city
\nbecause they affect the daily life of Jakarta residents.<\/p>\n
Compared to water pollution or the dwindling green areas in
\nthe city, I think traffic jams affect almost all of us.<\/p>\n
Suyatno, 43, taxi driver, originally from Madiun, East Java,
\nbut a Jakarta resident since 1984:<\/p>\n
Lately, safety is the big issue. Crime is on the increase,
\nthere are a lot of holdups of motorcyclists and drivers on the
\nstreets.<\/p>\n
Also traffic jams are getting worse. In South Jakarta, it's
\nprobably because of the construction of the new flyovers, but in
\nthe north of the city it's due to a lack of parking spaces.<\/p>\n
They should really build a parking building there so it won't
\ntake over the roadways.<\/p>\n
I moved here in 1984 because there was nothing for me in
\nMadiun. We villagers come to big cities to get jobs. At least
\nhere there's a better chance of success with trade or something
\nlike that. It's not like I like it here.<\/p>\n
Candra Wijaya, 27, athlete, a resident since 1988:<\/p>\n
I think security is the major problem for Jakarta because
\nthere are so many people who do not feel safe on the streets,
\nespecially in the evening. There are also certain areas in the
\ncity notorious for their high crime rates.<\/p>\n
At least we can help safeguard our own kampong or housing
\ncomplex by taking part in siskamling (neighborhood night
\npatrols). I also took part in siskamling during the May riots in
\n1998.<\/p>\n
We cannot rely too much on the police as they have so many
\nburdens but a limited number of personnel. Police officers'
\npresence in public places, such as in malls, increases the
\nfeeling of security to an extent. At least we know that there is
\nsomeone who is taking care of the security problem.<\/p>\n
Our police force must also improve its service so we will no
\nlonger consider their presence as something to be afraid of.<\/p>\n
Sindy, secretary, Jakarta-born but of mixed Manadonese-Javanese
\ndescent:<\/p>\n
Crime is the biggest problem. We do not feel safe anywhere
\nanymore, whether it's on the street, on the train, the bus or in
\nour own car. It doesn't matter if it's broad daylight or night --
\nit's just as risky now.<\/p>\n
It's only got this bad in the past five years since the crisis
\nand the reform movement. Everything is really screwed up.<\/p>\n
It's not up to the military or police alone to take care of
\nthe problem, because there are so many criminals today. We need
\nto open up more job opportunities. For instance, they show all
\nthese raids against prostitutes on the streets, but what good
\ndoes it do if there are no jobs for them to go to? And, the next
\nday, they have no choice but to go back to selling themselves.<\/p>\n
Hanafi Wiradinata, 72, a pensioner, originally from West Java but
\na permanent resident of the capital since 1954:<\/p>\n
I have seen the city's physically change into what it is today
\nwith skyscrapers and concrete buildings. But such development
\nbrings environmental impacts because more and more land is used,
\nleaving no space for water catchment areas.<\/p>\n
There have been so many situ (small lake) and empang (pond) as
\nwell as swampy areas sacrificed for the sake of physical
\ndevelopment.<\/p>\n
These actually help to conserve water for us so we will have
\nenough water during the dry season, and they prevent flooding by
\nstoring excess water volume.<\/p>\n
I have just read in the newspaper that Jakarta will face a
\nscarcity of water by 2010 if we keep building the way we have
\nbeen doing it. It is just such bad news for all of us because we
\ncannot live without water.<\/p>\n
We should provide more water catchment areas inside the city
\nand in the surrounding areas. I know it will be impossible to
\ntear down buildings to provide open land, but at least we can
\npreserve what we already have now.<\/p>\n
Another important thing is to keep the upstream area in Bogor,
\nPuncak and Cianjur intact. These areas have undergone massive
\ndevelopment in the past several years.<\/p>\n
Once the upstream areas can be preserved, I believe Jakarta
\nwill not have so many flooding problems in the future.<\/p>\n
Muhay, 36, a native Jakartan who works as an assistant manager
\nat a serviced apartment in Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
I think traffic jams are the worst problem in Jakarta, a daily
\nheadache involving both private and public vehicles.<\/p>\n
The city administration has implemented the three-in-one
\nregulation which I consider quite effective. It would be better
\nif the rule is applied on a larger scale, prohibiting all private
\nvehicles during the three-in-one period.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, the administration should provide
\nsufficient public transportation that is reliable and
\nconvenience. I believe most professionals and office workers will
\nuse public buses if equipped with air-conditioners and
\ncomfortable seats.<\/p>\n
The administration is also constructing several flyovers and
\nunderpasses at busy intersections, but it should be done in more
\nareas to reduce congestion.<\/p>\n
But the officials have yet to design more integrated bus stops
\nand pedestrian bridges. People tend to wait for buses on a
\npedestrian bridge because the bus stop is not located nearby.<\/p>\n
Traffic congestion can be reduced slightly if bridges and bus
\nstops can be integrated in one place.<\/p>\n
Another problem is that there are too many bus stops located
\ntoo close to traffic lights, which obstructs the free flow of
\ntraffic. City officials should consider a better location which
\nwould be more beneficial to the needs of both passengers and bus
\ndrivers.<\/p>",
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