Authors told to promote Jakarta's projects

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso has urged authors and novelists here to help support Jakarta's development programs, which are hindered by public ignorance.

"Writers have to be aware that they have the power to inform the public. You are the ones who can modify public opinion.

"So I hope you can write something good about Jakarta rather than writing ridiculous stories," Sutiyoso said during a plenary session at City Hall with the Indonesian Women Writers Association yesterday.

The governor was referring to city programs, such as the clean river, slum eradication and regreening projects, all of which require special attention and greater public awareness.

"Residents here have a tendency to use the rivers as an 'industrial dumpster'," he said. "You can find all kinds of stuff in it.

"Most people here don't care about sanitation and the environment. Your writing could hopefully change that.

"I think you have to make easy-reading and touching stories so people -- at all levels -- can understand them."

In his speech, he also underscored his primary objective for Jakarta: cataloging slum areas, city assets and green areas.

"The main objective is to protect the city's land and assets. Many land issues, for instance, have been left untouched for decades. Sooner or later it will affect the city's development projects. So I intend to fix this matter once and for all."

Sutiyoso said his obsession with creating more low-cost apartments for people living along the riverbanks, for instance, was hindered by those residents who refused to budge.

"I tried to talk some senses into them. But the result is not as good as I expected. It takes a lot of time because we are dealing with cultural transformation here... I know it's hard to get used to living in apartments with rigid regulations, when they used to be 'free' to live their lives in shacks."

He said the city needs all the help it can muster from various parties, including writers, to communicate with the people.

"Maybe because I've just been governor for three months my subordinates don't completely understand my wishes. Frankly, I have lost my voice dozens of times trying to talk to officials about how to do a proper job.

"So I hope your writing will also save me from losing my voice and getting a cough all the time," the 52-year-old general said.

At yesterday's meeting he also discussed the municipality's plan to hold a Miss and Mister Indonesia Book competition in coordination with the women writers association during Jakarta's birthday celebration.

The association's chairwoman, senior novelist La Rose, said the event will be staged in June and President Soeharto and Governor Sutiyoso will present trophies to the winners.

She said the winners would be chosen based on their capabilities, including their general knowledge, reading habits and communication abilities.

"I hope the event will boost reading habits among people here." (edt)