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)