Dont just party around, help the needy

Dont just party around, help the needy

Jakartans will celebrate the capital's 477th official anniversary
which falls on June 22. However, the city still has to deal with
various problems, including poverty, transportation, floods, lack
of green areas and many more. The Jakarta Post talked to some
Jakarta people about their hopes for the city.

Supardi, 28, is a security officer at PT Media Rahayu Citra on
Jl. Lombok, Central Jakarta. He lives with his family in
Cijantung, East Jakarta:

I don't know about the events organized by the city
administration to commemorate the Jakarta anniversary, and I
don't really care as I won't have the chance to enjoy the
celebrations.

I think the most important thing for me is that I can work
peacefully here. I really hope there will never be any riots and
violence in the future. I also hope the economic situation will
get back to normal soon so that the prices of basic commodities
will be cheaper in the future. As a man on a low wage, the last
thing I need is an increase price of food.

Niken Ayu Purbasari, 30, is an executive secretary with the
Mentari Indonesian educational foundation on Jl. Taman Cirendeu
Permai, South Jakarta. She lives in Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta:

I think the commemoration of the Jakarta anniversary should
not be focused only on festivities. It would be better if we
spent some of our money on helping the needy.

For example, there are still many evictees in the capital who
do not have proper shelter. They also do not have enough money to
meet their daily needs as many of them do not have proper jobs.
There must be action on the part of richer people to help them
ease the burden on the poor.

In commemorating the city's anniversary, we could raise money
from residents to be distributed to the evictees and poor people.
This would be worth more to them than spending a lot of money
decorating our neighborhoods.

-- The Jakarta Post