Jakarta to fully implement regional autonomy in 2002

JAKARTA (JP): Despite the inception of regional autonomy on Jan. 1, the agenda will practically take effect in the capital only next year at the earliest, an official said on Thursday.

Head of City Subdistricts Administration Office Koesnan A. Halim told The Jakarta Post that the city administration was still preparing various procedures needed to adequately execute the regional autonomy, including those related to the takeover of some central government assets.

He hinted the city administration office had yet to complete reorganizing its organizational structure to accommodate the transfer of authority from the central government.

"We are still drafting changes to the existing structure (of the city administration office). The draft will be proposed to the City Council this month," said Koesnan.

He said the changes would include the dissolution of several city offices, considered ineffective in accommodating regional autonomy.

"The structural changes should have been made before the draft city budget of 2001 was endorsed if regional autonomy was to be implemented now," he said.

The City Council approved on Dec. 30 the Rp 7.49 trillion budget proposed by the city administration in a plenary session marred by a walk-out of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle faction members.

When asked about the effort to take over some state assets in the capital, Koesnan said Governor Sutiyoso and many top city officials had repeatedly asked the central government to release the properties.

"So far we haven't had any response. It seems the central government remains reluctant to hand over assets to the city administration," Koesnan said.

"However, we pledge to continue with direct approaches to the State Secretariat and each private institution managing the assets."

The money-making assets, mostly recreational parks, toll roads and important public facilities, are currently managed by the central government through the State Secretariat and private institutions.

Meanwhile, the city administration office is still completing the inventory of the assets, among others, Tanjung Priok seaport in North Jakarta, Kemayoran business center in Central Jakarta and the Indonesia in Miniature Park in East Jakarta.

Koesnan said, the central government had a different perception about the takeover, saying that several properties should be managed according to national standards, including the Senayan sports complex and exhibition hall, the country's largest.

"We are capable to manage such assets, because we have sufficient human resources," claimed Koesnan.

Koesnan said the city administration would propose a management-sharing scheme with the central government regarding these businesses.

Under the scheme, the city administration would hold the authority to issue building construction permits (IMB) and apply city regulations on parking and local spatial planning of an area.

"Not all aspects of the businesses will be managed by the city administration. We will discuss the sharing arrangement further, but it is important that current operators of these assets acknowledge our existence as the host of the capital," he added.

Koesnan, however, denied allegations that the city administration had a strong desire for huge revenues from the assets.

"Managing such assets doesn't mean that the city will always reap profits. We have also committed to deal with the debts and possible losses," said Koesnan.(07)