Fear of Sutiyoso

Fear of Sutiyoso

From Warta Kota

Allowing the members of the Jakarta City Council to elect the Jakarta governor for the 2002-2007 term of office is a frightening prospect. Consider the following: * As Sutiyoso's policy is profit-oriented in nature and pays little attention to the poor, he has been opposed for the second term by virtually all members of the public. * The post of governorship must not be given to former officials who are never likely to introduce revolutionary changes in Jakarta. Unfortunately, many of Jakarta's councillors are still co-opted by the wild ambitions of pro-status-quo circles. * Many of Jakarta's city councillors are not consistent in their principles. Take, for example, Tarmidi Suhardjo. He has disobeyed an order from the chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), but has wavered in his principles because he stands a good chance of being elected deputy governor to accompany Sutiyoso. * Jakarta councillors do not bother to look at the track records of 72 candidates trying for the governor's position. This shows that the quality of legislative members is low or that they have been co-opted by certain rewards in return. * The public does not seem to think it is necessary to ask candidates for the governorship to report their wealth.

YENI INDRA

Jakarta

Jakarta