'I hope Jakarta will be free from flooding'

Jakartans celebrated the 475th anniversary of their city last Saturday. Some of them also expressed their hopes to The Jakarta Post that Jakarta would some day be blessed with more comfortable public transportation and a cleaner environment, and be more welcoming to the poor.

Nurchomari, 43, is a Jakartan who has spent 18 years of his life working for an insurance firm. He lives in Jatiwaringin, Pondok Gede, East Jakarta, with his wife and two children.

"The city's anniversary was be a costly party. But what for? It's of no avail when the celebration is in total contrast to the real situation in the city.

What's there to celebrate? No real achievements have been made by the city administration. The most significant action that the local government has undertaken is evicting people, making the people feel even more insecure.

Worse still, the city's unpleasant actions have lacked a clear vision and mission about good governance.

I'm just afraid that the party was simply a sort of a consolation for all of us unfortunate Jakartans. Personally, I hate to admit that I'm a bit apathetic about the anniversary.

Hopefully, having seen the total failure of the current governor, the next governor will pay more serious attention to the public interest."

Ratna Sarumpaet, 53, activist, leader of the Satu Merah Panggung theater troupe and a gubernatorial candidate. She lives in Kampung Melayu, East Jakarta.

"I hope Jakarta will become more compassionate. No more violations, and evictions of poor people.

So far, the city's face has been very unfriendly. Security is poor although the city is under a governor with a military background. Even this cannot guarantee security.

I hope Jakarta will be free from floods. The city administration should pay more attention to the flood problem so that it is no longer an annual problem.

Environmental management, especially of garbage, should be improved."

Alex Asmasubrata, 51, businessman and activist from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle. He lives in Kuningan, South Jakarta:

"Jakarta should be more friendly for all of its residents, especially for the poor people.

Public transportation, which is currently so bad, should be improved.

Security is important since the economy will not prosper if it isn't maintained. Cooperation between the city administration, police and the military is important for maintaining security."

Eddi Djohan, 40, is a taxi driver living in Cileduk, South Jakarta.

"If the question about my expectations in view of Jakarta's anniversary came from Governor Sutiyoso, I would tell him that he doesn't deserve another term. He has failed to improve the well- being of Jakarta residents.

I think he should not run for another term and should rather give a chance to other, more capable people to lead Jakarta. I've heard that there are more than 60 candidates for the Jakarta governorship. As a Jakarta resident, I hope that the next governor will pay more attention to the poor people, who have so far been ignored by Jakarta's leaders.

But, I don't know whether there's a candidate who is capable of doing this."