'I hope Jakarta will be free from flooding'

'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."