Administration to maintain current policy next year
Administration to maintain current policy next year
JAKARTA (JP): Governor Surjadi Soedirja has confirmed that
next year the municipal administration will continue its efforts
to enforce regulations in the city's development process.
"The city administration will consistently continue its
program to enforce the regulations despite strong criticism that
the policy is inhumane, because the program is aimed at helping
people to get a better life in the metropolis," Surjadi said
yesterday at a year's end press conference held to review the
administration's work in 1994.
He explained that it is not fair for people to call
enforcement of the law inhumane because it is part of an overall
effort to provide a better environment and living standards for
all Jakartans.
Surjadi said that land appropriation, which has been
criticized as inhumane, is one of many efforts to eliminate slum
areas and relocate squatters who live along river banks to
healthier housing complexes or apartments.
He said the slum problem is basically caused by the ever
growing population of the 65,000-hectare city. Most people who
come to Jakarta are undereducated and poorly skilled. This forces
them to work in the informal sectors, which do not provide them
enough income to readily afford homes in proper residential
districts.
There are bow 15,000 street vendors officially registered in
the capital.
"Through training programs we are trying to increase their
skills," Surjadi added.
Surjadi acknowledged that it is difficult to avoid negative
impacts in the development process. He emphasized that he always
requires his officials to avoid conflicts and to deal with people
patiently.
"Negative impacts can happen, but this will not stop the
enforcement of regulations," Surjadi said.
He pointed out that the city administration is facing a
dilemma in executing its programs: People will accuse the
administration of being inconsistent if it changes its policy,
but on the other hand, they will accuse it of being inhumane if
it continues its current programs.
"I know this policy is unpopular, but the show must go on,"
Surjadi said.
He explained that despite the criticism this year, there have
been improvements in the population, transportation, housing,
informal sector, social and public facility situations.
"As result of development, the city's GNP is US$1,700 this
year, while nationally it is $600," Surjadi said, adding that the
life expectancy rate in the city is also the highest in Indonesia;
68 years old for women and 63 for men.
Surjadi also explained that satisfactory results have been
achieved in efforts to provide social and public facilities,
although the administration has had to force real estate developers
to provide the facilities.
He said that the achievement reflects the hard work and
discipline shown by the city's personnel in serving the people,
although some violations of the law occurred.
Surjadi said he expected a high level of achievement again next
year and hoped that the people are ready to support the
administration's program to make Jakarta a "service city", with the
municipal administration providing facilities for the plan.
The governor urged Jakartans to be able to learn from this
year's experiences and to increase their discipline for higher
achievements. (yns)