Ijoel Speaks Frankly to Bang Doel on Jakarta Facilities: They Should Be Monitored, Not Wait for Viral Incidents

Content creator Ijoel has frankly voiced sharp criticism towards the government regarding the maintenance of public facilities in Jakarta. He delivered this critique directly to the Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta, Rano Karno, known as Bang Doel, along with department heads, during a meeting lasting over two hours at City Hall on Wednesday (8/4/2026). Ijoel emphasised that government officials should conduct direct field supervision, rather than merely sitting idle waiting for complaints or incidents to go viral on social media. According to Ijoel, lower-level government personnel, such as those at the sub-district level through their implementing units, must routinely monitor their respective areas to identify which facilities require additional maintenance. Moreover, infrastructure damage like potholed roads does not occur solely due to weather factors. “Roads, for example, don’t get damaged only during the rainy season. Even if that’s the case, it should be mitigated through maintenance. The rainy season can be predicted via BMKG, so it should be anticipated in advance,” he said. Ijoel also criticised public services that often pass the buck when receiving residents’ reports. He gave the example of numerous resident complaints going to the sub-district office, only to be redirected to the One-Stop Integrated Service (PTSP). However, even after arriving at PTSP, residents are frequently told to report again via the JAKI application. “PTSP is supposed to be a one-stop service, but it’s passed on, ‘now you have to go through JAKI’. Meanwhile, some matters are urgent and require immediate follow-up. Many residents with low incomes can’t download the JAKI app or don’t understand it,” he stated. In his view, road repairs in Jakarta are ineffective and won’t last because the root causes are never addressed first. “If, for instance, repairing damaged roads, first identify what the cause is. Don’t just arrive and fix it straight away. For example, if there’s water runoff from above, or vehicle access needs to be restricted there,” Ijoel explained. Ijoel noted that Rano Karno and the department heads in Jakarta received the input he provided. In fact, Rano admitted to being greatly helped and referred to Ijoel as an extension of the Jakarta government’s reach. “Bang Doel feels like he only has two hands and two eyes. With Ijoel, Bang Doel feels like he has many eyes and many hands,” Ijoel quoted. “The hope is that local government should first reflect on past mistakes. Don’t rush into innovations; reflect and improve first,” Ijoel concluded.