Council rejects call to hire ex-councilors

Council rejects call to hire ex-councilors

JAKARTA (JP): City councilors rejected on Friday a plan to
hire former councilors to assist the City Council's five
commissions, and instead requested the help of independent
experts to provide the council with alternative solutions to city
problems.

"We'll reject them. The former councilors will only continue
covering mistakes made during their terms in office," Chudlary
Safi'i Hazami of the United Development Party (PPP) said.

He accused the former councilors of concealing details of the
council's several unfinished tasks, including the renegotiation
of a water treatment management agreement between PDAM Jaya and
two foreign partners.

"In the previous term, only two or three councilors knew
about the renegotiation deal. Now, they are trying to approach
Council leaders to ask for jobs," he said.

Chudlary, a member of the Council's Commission C for financial
affairs, declined to mention their names, but he was likely
referring to Ali Wongso Sinaga, Nitra Arsyad, Lukman F. Mokoginta
and Wien H. Ritola.

Ali, Nitra, Lukman and Wien established Institute for Research
on City Empowerment on Aug. 25, the same day the city's new
councilors were sworn in.

The former councilors said they wanted to help solve various
city problems as the city's consultants.

Binsar Tambunan of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
(PDI Perjuangan) shared Chudlary's opinion, saying that
independent experts were needed to help solve various kinds of
city problems.

"The former councilors will not be much different from us.
What we really need are experts," said Binsar, who is also
chairman of the Council's administration affairs Commission A.

Council speaker Edy Waluyo said expert staff were needed to
help the councilors with their duties.

"Their presence is guaranteed in the 1999 Law on the Structure
and Composition of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR)/the
House of Representatives (DPR) and the Regional Council.

While neglecting to reveal their names, Edy suggested that the
expert staff should be hired on a temporary rather than a
permanent basis.

"But, it will completely depend on the councilors to decide.
They could also hire the staff permanently if they wanted," Edy
said on Friday.

The councilors, however, differed in observing the terms for
expert staff.

Binsar said he would prefer to employ expert staff on a
permanent basis, while Chudlary said they should not be hired
permanently as they would be a burden for the council in the long
term.

Chudlary said: "It's our duty as councilors to also
understand the problems of the city," he said.

Both Chudlary and Binsar agreed that the commissions should
prioritize the deliberation of the city's problems, including the
water management deal between the City Water Company (PDAM Jaya)
and two foreign firms -- Thames Pam Jaya (TPJ) and Pam Lyonnaise
Jaya (Palyja), bus fare hikes, garbage management and city
parking. (jun)