'I don't really care who leads the city'

'I don't really care who leads the city'

Governor Sutiyoso and Deputy Governor Fauzi Bowo have been
inaugurated and have begun serving their five-year terms, but
many residents told The Jakarta Post that they just don't care.

Mira, 37, a textile shop worker in Mayestik market, South
Jakarta. She comes from Surabaya, East Java, and now lives in
Ciledug, South Jakarta, with her four children and husband:

I have heard people talking about, what's his name, Sutiyoso.
To tell you the truth, I'm apathetic about who governs the city.

I don't really know anything about him, so can you tell me the
truth about Sutiyoso and who he is?

I mean, it doesn't really matter anyway. In my experience,
Jakarta is always unsafe, no matter who the governor is.

Besides, do you think that poor people like me can do anything
to make the city better, to turn it around? And do you think the
governor can do anything? I don't think so.

Basically, I'm of the opinion that the best and safest thing
to do is to just go about my work so I can survive.

Anto, 24, a former security guard at Plaza Senayan, he now
works as a sidewalk vendor selling magazines and newspapers. He
lives in Radio Dalam, South Jakarta:

What am I, an ordinary person, supposed to do about the
reelection of Governor Sutiyoso? It wouldn't make sense to try to
oppose him because that wouldn't benefit me. I'll just stay
impartial.

He was reelected because the corrupt city councillors chose
him. The wishes of the people were ignored.

He won the election because of the invisible, powerful
support given to him by middle-class people with lucrative
businesses. So Sutiyoso's reelection was only supported by a
small percentage of the middle class who had a personal interest
in seeing him serve a second term. .

I think the protesters who rallied in support or opposition to
him were paid to do so. It's no longer support or opposition that
brings people out, it's only money that can move them.

It's better for me to concentrate on how to earn enough money
to survive. That's more realistic, isn't it?

Mamat, 50, a chauffeur for 12 years. The native Jakartan lives
in Pondok Gede, East Jakarta, with his wife and two children:

In my opinion, anyone who volunteers for a leadership position
is motivated by selfish reasons. So their promises to side with
the people are rubbish. This includes Governor Sutiyoso.

I don't think he will do anything to help the city's residents
during his second term.

That's why I don't care about what's going on in the city. I'm
fed up with all the disgusting political conspiracies among high-
ranking officials.

They are all greedy leaders. Their main concerns are being
able to afford expensive cars, sending their children abroad to
study and above all securing their positions.

What I have to do is just work patiently and honestly so me
and my family can survive.

Hoping for good governance and credible leaders is a waste of
time these days.

Jack, 35, sells gado-gado along Jl. Dharmawangsa, South
Jakarta. The father of two comes from Lampung:

Sutiyoso was just so eager to be reelected, despite his poor
performance during his first term.

He should have stepped down in response to the massive
opposition from city residents.

I cannot imagine what will happen to the city in the future.

As a poor man, I'm of the opinion that there is no need for
people to hold rallies to protest against Sutiyoso. We're the
ones who will suffer the consequences because the rallies will
come to nothing. It's all in vain.

Let's just see how things shape up under his leadership.
That's the most practical thing we can do now.

-- Leo Wahyudi S