Anniversary a moment for introspection: Surjadi
JAKARTA (JP): Governor Surjadi Soedirdja urged city officials yesterday to use Jakarta's 470th anniversary as a moment of introspection.
He said officials should consider whether they have provided services needed by the public.
"Providing services sounds simple, but if conducted seriously, results can be very impressive," Surjadi said at a press conference on the city's anniversary yesterday.
But communication between officials and the public was still a problem, he said.
"The problem now is how to get officials and the public to 'tune in' to each other, to make sure both use the same language" to avoid conflicts, he said.
Miscommunication, which has the potential to lead to conflict, he said, was in such policies as vendors taking up street space and people living on river banks.
The city, he said, was gradually achieving its goal of moving away from industries.
"Sixty-five percent of businesses here are now in the service sector," he said.
However problems, like traffic congestion, faced with a limited ability to solve them, he said, could cause a decline in investment.
"We don't want that to happen to Jakarta," Surjadi said.
In the future, he said, the municipality will have a subway system and other means of mass transportation.
"In the meantime, we will tolerate the existence of other public transport, such as three-wheeled bemo vehicles."
Surjadi reiterated his disappointment of recent strikes, blaming them on people spreading rumors on additional buses. Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Sutiyoso had also said drivers, fearing additional buses to their routes, instigated the strikes.
Events
Events across the city to highlight Jakarta's anniversary will mostly be held at recreational parks, like Ancol Dreamland Park in North Jakarta and Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII) in East Jakarta.
In Kemayoran at the Jakarta Fairgrounds, organizers will display today the "longest satay in the world".
The fair will also perform a myriad of Chinese lanterns until July 13. The lanterns are designed attractively, such as in the form of dinosaurs, the National Monument and the Al Azhar Mosque.
In Ancol, there will be an elephants parade, a fireworks display and music performances by popular entertainers.
At Miniature Park, music performances will mostly feature dangdut singers.
The city's five mayoralties will also perform several entertainments performing well-known singers.
On Monday, the Gedung Kesenian Jakarta will start performing movie shows until June 25 as part of Jakarta Festival 1997.
Among the movies played were Cintaku di Rumah Susun from Indonesia, The Sting of Death from Japan, and the Eternal Empire from South Korea. (ste)