'Can they provide enough food for Jakartans?'

'Can they provide enough food for Jakartans?'

Although not all votes for the Regional Representatives Council
(DPD) have been counted, the top four candidates for Jakarta --
Mooryati Soedibyo, Sarwono Kusumaatmadja, Biem Triani Benyamin
and Marwan Batubara -- have secured seats on the council. The
Jakarta Post talked to some residents on what they believe the
future senators can do to improve the lives of Jakartans.

Nurohim, 33, a street vendor, sells clothes near Tanah Abang
in Central Jakarta. He lives in Kebayoran Lama subdistrict, South
Jakarta:

I don't know what to expect from the senators as I don't know
much about the function of the DPD. But, from what you have told
me, I hope that they are planning to listen to ordinary people
like us.

I want them to tell Governor Sutiyoso not to evict me from
here because I have to feed my three children. I have been
evicted by public order officers four times this year alone.

It's not easy to find a job now. Being a street vendor is my
only option at present. Maybe, this is also the case for other
street traders. We hope that we will be allowed to work here
until we can find better jobs.

Augustinus Triwahyudi, 28, works as a trainer of an IT
consulting company in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta. He lives
with his family in Radio Dalam, also in South Jakarta:

I don't have faith in those who have secured seats. In fact, I
didn't vote as I'm pessimistic about the candidates.

Mooryati (Soedibyo) is too old to fight for Jakartans. As a
woman, she doesn't seem to pay attention to women's issues.
Meanwhile, Sarwono (Kusumaatmaja) is just an old guy from the
corrupt regime of the New Order.

However, as a city resident, of course I want to see
improvements. My main concern is that Jakartans have enough to
eat. When this is no longer an issue, we can move on to other
programs.

--The Jakarta Post