'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)