Councillors yet to decide on Sutiyoso's speech

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)