Governor vows better service for residents

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)