Doubt surrounds new council

Doubt surrounds new council

Bambang Nurbianto, Jakarta

Urban planning and transportation experts expressed pessimism
over the expected role of the City Transportation Council (DTK)
to resolve the city's acute transportation problems because it
has no power to intervene in the city's policies.

Alan Marino, a transportation expert from the University of
Indonesia, pointed out that the new bylaw on transportation only
entitles the council to make suggestions or recommendations to
the city administration.

"I'm afraid the DTK will simply be a rubber stamp for policy
made by the city administration," Alan, who is also a member of
his alma mater's Center for Transport Studies (CTS), said on
Saturday.

Secretary-general of the Forum for Cleaner Emission
Partnership (MEB) Ahmad Safrudin said it was hard to expect an
independent council if the administration still took part in the
early stages of the recruitment process.

"I heard that Governor Sutiyoso has been given the authority
to filter applicants before they are allowed to take part in
subsequent stages of the recruitment process so he can prevent
outspoken critics from becoming DTK members," he said.

Article 98 of the 2003 bylaw stipulates the administration
should establish the transportation council six months after its
endorsement in December.

DTK members will consist of representatives of the police,
city administration, transport users, transport operators,
experts and non-governmental organizations.

The bylaw, however, did not cover in detail its powers or its
job description. That will be set out in a gubernatorial decree.

The recruitment process for DTK members, who will be in post
for two years, will open with registration of interested
applicants on Monday until July 26.

Alan said the establishment of the DTK was a response to
strong public pressure for the presence of an independent
institution, which would have a significant role in policy
making.

"Unfortunately, the DTK will not be independent because its
operation will still be under the control of the City
Transportation Agency."

To ensure the council's independence, Alan suggested the
budget for the DTK should be disbursed via the City Planning
Agency (Bapeda) or specifically allocated in the city budget.

He cited the Chicago Transport Authority as a good model as it
has the power to design transportation policies.

"If its recommendations are ignored by the Chicago mayor, they
can report the major to the legislative body. The authority can
leave the mayor in difficulties," he said.

Interesting applicants can apply at the Swisscontact secretariat
on Jl. Wijaya XII No. 44, South Jakarta.