'Dekel' has yet to meet the expectations of the people

Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Subdistrict councils or dewan kelurahan (dekel) were established throughout Jakarta to enable the public's participation in the management of their subdistrict. However, one year after its inception, the council has yet to perform as promised, according several residents.

Many of the council members were even reportedly involved in graft cases and other irregularities in managing the city administration's projects. Most of the irregularities usually took place in low-income subdistricts where the people were not well educated.

Tamsir, a resident of Bidara Cina kelurahan in the mayoralty of East Jakarta, complained on Monday about the role of the council, saying that they were too ignorant to accommodate the needs of the people.

"During the flood they just sat doing nothing at the subdistrict office, instead of helping the residents. We know that it's our fault for choosing improper candidates, but we had no choice as some of the more prominent figures in my neighborhood refused to be elected due to their jobs or other time constraints," said Tamsir, who is chief of neighborhood unit (RW) 11.

He also added that it was difficult to find a qualified council member, as the trusted figures among the residents had already served as leaders, either in the lowest level community unit (RT, which includes from 20 to 50 families) or the higher level RW, which includes 10 or more RTs. There are 267 subdistricts or kelurahan in the five mayoralties of Jakarta.

Members of the council are elected by the residents themselves. But any chief of a neighborhood unit is not eligible to be elected as a member of a subdistrict council.

The council is also expected to control the subdistrict's performance.

In Bidara Cina subdistrict, most of the residents are poor people who live along the banks of the Ciliwung river. They mostly make a living by selling food and drink as street vendors.

The council's chief, Muhammad Sobar, claimed that the council's task was already hard and that the job was new for the members, who were still learning their roles.

"I admit that there is negative perception from the residents, I wish they could sit on my chair for a while to experience our trouble. There are also rumors that we have been siphoning off the aid money intended for the flood victims," he grumbled.

Similar complaints of the councillor's performance were also made by Asmarih, the subdistrict chief of Kebon Baru, South Jakarta, saying that the council was only a burden to the city administration.

"The councillors do not have the slightest initiative in empowering the residents. Their job is useless since the neighborhood chief could easily handle their job. So what are the councillors for?" asked Asmarih.

Gita, a resident of Jl. Asem Baris, Kebon Baru subdistrict, said that he did not know the council members. The 55-year-old man only knew his neighborhood unit chief, whose letter of recommendation is needed for processing an ID card.

The council was inaugurated on Jan. 19, 2001 based on the City Bylaw No.5/2000. The body consists of seven to 10 members, depending on the number of neighborhood units in each subdistrict.

The council members, who now have a monthly salary of Rp 650,000 (more than US$65) each, are democratically elected by each of the subdistrict's residents. The election on the forming of the council is the utmost example for the public to learn.

The chosen candidates from several units of the subdistrict are later convened to choose their chief and deputy. A council member has a term of five years, and is eligible to be elected for another term.

The council is only equipped with an operational budget of Rp 500,000 (US$50) per month and a transportation fund of only Rp 200,000 per month.