An unstrategic plan
Big projects begin with dreams, some say. But this slogan is apparently not true for Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso, who has just revealed his latest dream.
This is to develop Jakarta in an idealistic manner via the 2002-2007 Strategic Plan, which addresses eight major issues, the draft of which he presented to the City Council plenary session on Tuesday. The council is expected to approve the plan so that it can become a set of bylaws.
Frankly speaking, the 250-page draft contains nothing special except for the idealistic dreams of an official bombarded by criticism for lacking vision and initiative.
A councillor has said that the Strategic Plan is too prescriptive.
The plan contains prescriptions and ideals, without the concrete steps to achieve them.
It is clear that Sutiyoso has simply listed and recorded all the problems in a comprehensive manner. What he terms the matrix of problems, however, does not promise any clear action to resolve them.
Each matrix has four columns: "the course and the policy", "the strategy" (which comprises normative steps), the "program" (which is a normative plan) and "indicators of performance" as a result of the plan's implementation, which is no more than a list of ideals.
In short, Sutiyoso has been very capable of making an inventory of the problems, but fails to explain how the plan's noble intentions can be achieved.
Take the matrix on natural resources and the environment. "The course and the policy" is managing natural resources and enhancing efforts on conservation, rehabilitation and the saving of natural resources by the application of environmentally friendly technology, especially in mining and energy, and in water in residential areas.
"The strategy" is to optimize efforts on conservation, rehabilitation and saving of natural resources through adequate information to the public, improving coordination among concerned institutions in charge of underground utilities and improving law enforcement in the case of improper and excessive use of groundwater.
"The programs (on groundwater preservation) are developing the sources (of groundwater) and indicators of performance are: first, better control of the use of groundwater by government institutions, businesses and the public; second, increasing the level of groundwater; third, increasing groundwater deposition in line with the increase in the number of artesian wells, injection wells and the construction of reservoirs; fourth, availability of data and information on groundwater relating to the (annual) dry season."
People might be puzzled after reading one of the many matrices in the draft Strategic Plan. They give no clear indication on how to implement all the dreams and promises. Sutiyoso also fails to mention the proposed target beneficiaries of the plan and the deadline.
We are curious to know what Sutiyoso really means by "developing groundwater sources" as the only program to optimally use natural resources (groundwater in this case). Isn't it a very straightforward issue that a first-year high school student could easily understand?
In this way the Army lieutenant general -- again -- has failed to demonstrate his ability to promote improvement of the city, despite the fact that he now holds the post of governor for a second (consecutive) term, from 2002 to 2007.
With the Strategic Plan Sutiyoso merely proves himself to be a "publicity seeker", demonstrating his increasing unpopularity since his reelection campaign in August this year.
Councillor Haim Hamidi of the National Mandate Party (PAN) has said that Sutiyoso deliberately framed the Strategic Plan in such a way as to avoid running the risk of its being rejected by the council.
If so, Sutiyoso's Strategic Plan reminds us of the systematic Five-Year Development Plans(Repelita) produced under former president Soeharto.
Using all the powers at his disposal, Soeharto managed to introduce his wide-ranging Repelita, which became an effective political tool for him and his supporters to retain both power and position. The first Repelita was followed by the second and then by the third, etc., until he resigned in 1998.
The ball is now in the hands of the City Council. We suggest that the council be patient and careful in studying the draft. Sutiyoso has said that revision is still possible; therefore, it is imperative that the council study the draft, despite the fact that Sutiyoso has claimed its preparation has involved experts, intellectuals and scholars from a variety of universities.
The council must be extra-careful before it approves the draft to become a set of bylaws. We hope that the plan produced by Sutiyoso will not lead us deeper into more uncertainty. Jakartans, fed up by economic, security, social and legal uncertainties, might simply go "insane" at Sutiyoso's strategic, or unstrategic, plan.