'Inconsistency worsens public's frustration'

'Inconsistency worsens public's frustration'

BOGOR (JP): Noted sociologist Sardjono Jatiman said the municipality's inconsistency in enforcing its policies has worsened the frustration among people here.

The staff lecturer of the University of Indonesia was speaking on the city's policy in developing low-cost apartments.

People compensated for their land to make way for apartments were promised to be given priority to occupy the new apartment units.

"But the reality has been very different," Sardjono, who is also city planning consultant, told reporters on a discussion on Jakartans' behavior last week.

"The municipality should make its policies clear before enforcing them," Sardjono said.

He warned people's frustration over inconsistent policies would accumulate day after day.

"The frustration could easily be triggered by simple matters," he said. Worse, he added, this was difficult to anticipate because Jakartans are too diverse.

Social classes

Jakartans come from various places throughout the country and belong to different social classes, he said.

According to city council records, land disputes were the highest among people's protests last year. Fifty-one of 82 protests regarded land, involving people who had to make way for various projects.

Sardjono urged the municipality to take different approaches in implementing its policies because of Jakarta's diversity.

He suggested the municipality start gathering more complete data on city people, including their hometowns and income groups. He admitted it would be difficult.

"But it's about time. It's important to determine the approach which should be taken to implement policies," Sardjono said.

He said officials should understand, for instance, that lower class, unskilled people still have a strong bond to their hometowns.

He said many of them do not care much about how the city perceives development "because they consider (Jakarta) merely as a place to earn their living".

He cited the frequent objection to city plans to resettle slum people in apartments.

"This would reduce the amount of money they usually send to their hometowns," Sardjono said.

Every year, especially after the Idul Fitri holidays, the city is overwhelmed with the number of people seeking jobs.

This year, 329,468 newcomers entered the city after Idul Fitri along with the returning Jakartans. (ste)