Tue, 06 Jun 2000

Councillors yet to decide on Sutiyoso's speech

JAKARTA (JP): Amid strong public pressure that he resigns from his governorship, Sutiyoso gave his annual accountability speech on Monday before city councillors at the City Council building on Jl. Kebon Sirih in Central Jakarta.

In the speech, a progress report of his tenure as governor, Sutiyoso delivered all development aspects in the city, from private parking issues to corruption cases in his administration.

Interviewed separately after the hearing, some city councillors told The Jakarta Post they were dissatisfied with the speech.

"I'm dissatisfied with his (Governor's) speech. But, it's not the time to say so. We still have to discuss it among council members first," said Syarifin Maloko of the Crescent Star Party (PBB) faction.

"He has his good and bad points. We have to study them carefully," he added, while pointing out that the city revenue had exceeded earlier estimations.

Councillors will discuss the speech's technical aspects in their respective commissions, while the political aspects will be studied at each faction.

Chairwoman of the National Mandate Party (PAN) faction Siti Wasilah criticized the speech.

"Sutiyoso's not doing well. I think we can give him a grade less than six on the scale of one to 10," she said.

"He has failed to solve social problems such as gambling and prostitution, although he had managed to close the well-known red-light district of Kramat Tunggak in North Jakarta," she added.

Another councillor of the PAN faction, Mardjuan Bakrie, admitted that the governor had close relations with the grassroots.

"We can't deny that he has a special and close relation with city residents, but that is not enough," he said.

"He lacks strong leadership in dealing with his subordinates. There are indications that some of them aren't loyal to him, as they reject his orders," he added.

Meanwhile, councillor H.A.H. Ishak of the National Awakening Party (PKB) faction said he was generally satisfied with the speech, except for a clause about a water management deal between city water company PD PAM Jaya and its foreign partners.

"The governor didn't explain which article is still under heavy negotiation as stated in his speech," he said.

"He should have mentioned which article it was, so we can understand why the renegotiations are still unfinished," he added.

After delivering his speech, Sutiyoso asked for the councillors' objectivity in assessing it.

"I hope the councillors will be objective in judging my speech," he told reporters.

Rumors were rife, however, that the governor's men had approached several city councillors to ensure that they endorse his speech in return for a certain amount of money or other forms of reward.

Council leaders have reportedly received new cars, a second official car of the four-wheel-drive type, which was seen by critics as the city administration's effort to pass the annual speech.

It was also reported that the governor's staff offered a huge amount of money to secure his governorship.

Mardjuan said he had yet to be offered any such a reward.

"Nobody has approached me yet, but I wish someone would do so soon. I want to prove the rumors," he said.

"Whether I will take it or not, that's my right," he added.

The accountability speech was marred by rallies staged by different group of protesters, including becak (pedicab) drivers and victims of the July 27, 1996 takeover of the Megawati Soekarnoputri-led camp of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) Headquarters.

"Sutiyoso must resign from his position as he has failed to perform his duty," read a poster.

Commenting on the protest, council speaker Edy Waluyo said the council would not bow to external pressure in assessing Sutiyoso's annual speech.

"We will be as objective as possible in assessing the governor's speech. We will also, however, give consideration to the aspirations of the protesters," he said.

"The speech is only a progress report of his governorship. It won't bring any harm to him, unless there is a major scandal," he added. (nvn)