'I hope they will listen to us'

'I hope they will listen to us'

The victory of new Jakarta Council speaker Ade Surapriatna of
Golkar Party has not been without controversy and has raised
questions on the loss of rival Ahmad Heryawan of the Prosperous
Justice Party (PKS), which holds a majority of 18 seats.
Political experts even suspect money politics in the speakership
election. The Jakarta Post asked some residents their
expectations of the new council members.

Widyawati, 56, sells noodles and meat ball soup at Jatinegara
traditional market in East Jakarta. She lives with her family in
Rawabunga, East Jakarta:

For a layman like me, my main concern is to have a peaceful
city. No more riots, terrorist attacks or political feuds, which
would only hurt us, the people.

We are tired of being worried all the time at work: about the
price of basic commodities that usually skyrocket during an
emergency situation and whether we could still run our businesses
tomorrow.

I don't know much about politics, including what the City
Council does. But, as far as I know, they represent us in the
city. As the people's representatives, of course, I really hope
they open their ears to our complaints. I hope they could help us
solve our daily problems, like flooding and garbage, and not
burden us.

Gedsiri Suhartono, 32, works at an information service firm on
Jl. Sudirman, Central Jakarta. She lives in Lebak Bulus, South
Jakarta:

The recent defeat of the largest faction's candidate in the
speakership election has made me pessimistic over the performance
of the City Council. The result of the election is very odd
because the party itself has obtained support from the second
largest faction, the Democratic Party.

So, we cannot expect too much from the councillors who have
elected an old hand to control them.

But I hope I am wrong, because, all of us want to see a better
city and that would not to happen without well-performed
councillors.

-- The Jakarta Post