City councillors need a conscience

City councillors need a conscience

From Warta Kota

The Jakarta Council has become the subject of much criticism. The media have spotlighted various issues related to Jakarta's councillors, such as their high salaries, their studies financed by public funds, their proposal for an increase in their "special allowance" as well as payment for their life insurance.

Do they only think of their own interests and take advantage of existing loopholes? No doubt they are seduced into seeking to benefit from the weakness of regulations to accumulate their wealth.

Have Jakarta's councillors, in their capacity as the city's public representatives, struggled for the sake of the people in the region? Have they striven to improve Jakartans' standard of living?

In the New Order era, Jakarta's councillors were still mindful of the fate of the people. For example, when fire disasters occurred they visited the victims and expressed their sympathy and concern for the suffering of the victims.

But today, Jakarta's councillors, even though they have a high income, do not even bother to pay attention to people's suffering, let alone provide any assistance.

They should try to carry out inspections and observe traffic jams and the illegal trade of pornographic VCDs in the Glodok area, or hear complaints lodged by sidewalk vendors, visit hospitalized policemen shot by criminals and condole relatives of civil guards who die after being attacked by mobs.

Jakarta's councillors should work hard to justify their high income, instead of merely thinking of their own interests so that they can enrich themselves.

MANSYUR SALAMUN

Jakarta