'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