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