Firm measure needed to curb migrants

Firm measure needed to curb migrants

JAKARTA (JP): During his weekly tour yesterday, Governor
Surjadi Soedirdja called on subdistrict chiefs to firmly enforce
law on population in an effort to impede the pace of
urbanization.

The governor said that, so far, the subdistrict chiefs have
not been firm enough on enforcing the law and the influx of
migrants into Jakarta has continued unabated.

The population law that he wants to focus on specifically
states that new migrants should report to local neighborhood
chiefs once every 24 hours. When reporting, they are required to
submit travel documents issued by the administration offices of
the regions they hail from and other papers stating that they
have occupations and residences in the capital.

Surjadi said, in most cases, new migrants only pose problems
to the city, as the majority of them are less-educated and
unskilled. According to him, they usually end up becoming
vagrants, scavengers or asongan street vendors, who sell their
goods at traffic light stops.

"Besides, the migration creates new slum areas, makeshift
houses on riverbanks and along railways tracks," said the
governor.

The city measures approximately 650 square in width which is
almost equal to Singapore. Singapore is occupied by about three
million people, as compared to Jakarta's more than eight million.

Earlier this week two former Jakarta governors Ali Sadikin and
Wiyogo Atmodarminto urged Surjadi to take stricter measures to
curb the capital's ever growing population.

Ali Sadikin even said the city should have been declared
closed to new migrants a long time ago.

However, Surjadi seems to have another idea. He said that his
aggressive campaign to impede the pace of migration does not mean
that he will close Jakarta's door to new migrants.

"Jakarta is an open city, but now it is closed to migrants who
do not have occupations and residences in the city. We should be
selective in allowing new migrants to live in the city as we do
not want to see them become beggars. There are still many places
where they can make a better living," said Surjadi.

Surjadi once again stressed that, in the near future, the city
will have no choice but to house the majority of its residents in
apartments.

"Sooner or later, we shall all live in apartments," said the
governor. (jsk)