Governor vows better service for residents

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso has ordered all his top officials, including the city's five mayors, heads of districts and subdistricts, and heads of agencies, to show their commitment to the further improvement of services for the public and not to merely pay lip service.

In a meeting at Hall A of the vast Jakarta Fairground complex in Kemayoran, the governor told his subordinates that they have to help him prove the pledge he made before the city council recently to provide the best services they could to the public.

"The local staff is a vital element for the success of this administration, that's why I want you to fulfill your responsibility since the next accountability report (of his governorship) should be submitted four months from now," Sutiyoso said.

The governor told the audience of some 1,000 staff that the councillors' approval of his revised accountability speech earlier this week apparently had a strong impact on his administration, which is required to make a significant improvement to their performance and day-to-day public services.

"We have to pay for all the commitments which have been stated before the councillors, especially in improving public services, restructuring the management of city-owned companies and reducing the number of public order offenses," Sutiyoso said.

The governor admitted that not all aspects can be fulfilled in such as a short period but that the administration should start at its basic commitments, primarily those that directly affect the people such as the plan to provide free identification cards and cheaper, faster services for people seeking building permits.

To reduce the number of public offenses, Sutiyoso told his personnel to concentrate on controlling prostitution, street vendors and beggars.

"We have these commitments that we have to fulfill. The city council will inspect each district and talk to the public before giving an appraisal for the next accountability speech. So we have to be serious," he remarked.

The meeting between the governor and such a large number of staff was the first ever held in the city administration. Many believed that it was one of Sutiyoso's efforts to achieve real improvement in his performance over the next four months lest his end of year accountability speech be rejected by the council.

"I have to cut the chain of command and speed up the implementation of promises that I've declared in front of the city council," Sutiyoso said.

The Jakarta Regional Council voted on Monday to accept the revised yearly accountability speech of Governor Sutiyoso even though the biggest faction in the council, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), rejected it.

On the next day, the National Mandate Party (PAN) faction at the council warned Sutiyoso to improve his performance during the 100-day period or the faction would issue a vote of non- confidence.

PAN was the second biggest faction in the council with 13 members, after PDI Perjuangan with 30 members, out of 85 councillors.

To boost the spirit of his administration, Sutiyoso promised to apply a reward and punishment system to his staff.

"The administration will not hesitate to give rewards for good personnel and won't hesitate to punish violators," he added.(dja)