Business persons urged to help improve slums

Business persons urged to help improve slums

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Surjadi Soedirdja urged local
businessman to support the city administration's plan to do away
with slum areas here within three years.

"I urge businessmen who live in Jakarta to help the city
administration solve the slum problem in Jakarta," said Surjadi
during his visit to Tanjung Barat, Lenteng Agung in South Jakarta
and Tegal Alur in West Jakarta on Sunday.

The governor said that if all parties pitch in, Jakarta's
slums will soon be just a distant memory.

Presently 11 subdistricts are classified as slums here, five
of which receive Rp 20 million (US$9,200) in aid annually as part
of the central government's program, while the other six receive
around Rp 10 million in annual donations from the city.

The 11 subdistricts include Galur in Central Jakarta,
Cilincing, Kali Baru, Kapuk Muara and Kamal Muara in North
Jakarta, Kamal and Tegal Alur in West Jakarta; and four others in
the Seribu Islands.

During his visit to Tegal Alur, the governor also opened a
vocational training center for 41 young people.

Surjadi told the participants that physical development is not
enough to eliminate the less developed subdistricts in Jakarta
because the people who live in the slum areas should change their
lifestyles from dependence to independence.

The governor donated Rp 8 million for the training center
while the mayor of West Jakarta presented Rp 22 million which had
been raised by local businessmen.

Meanwhile, to commemorate the nation's 49th anniversary on
Aug. 17, the governor asked all mayors, chiefs of districts and
subdistricts to keep their territories, attractive and dignified.

He also said that all high-rise buildings, hotels, companies
and houses should decorate their exteriors to commemorate
independence day.

"I do not believe that wealthy people who own those buildings
lack the funds to celebrate Independence Day," he said.