New governor urged to follow blueprint
New governor urged to follow blueprint
JAKARTA (JP): Outgoing Governor Surjadi Soedirdja yesterday
urged the next governor to focus on the city's nine strategic
plans that have been implemented in the past five years.
"Since I was appointed as governor, I've been saying that
Jakarta has a huge, heavy and complex problem to be solved,"
Surjadi said. "So, I really hope that the strategic plans will
also form the guidelines for the new governor managing the city."
The governor, who is expected to relinquish his duties early
next month, made these comments in front of students of Jakarta
University, who organized a seminar on Jakarta's prospects and
strategic development.
The nine strategies are: reducing the population, rejuvenating
slum areas, managing informal sectors, improving public services,
enhancing the attitude of city staff, increasing the city's
revenue, improving traffic and transportation, protecting
the environment and selecting qualified staff.
According to Surjadi, the plans were based on intensive
studies and research involving many experts in urban and social
planning.
"I think one of the many problems to be solved relates to
migrants," he said.
"The family planning program is working well here but every
year Jakarta -- which is now home to 11 million people -- has an
influx of new 'citizens', particularly after Lebaran (the Moslem
post-Ramadhan fasting month) when at least 200,000 people come to
the city annually in search of work," he said.
Among other officers attending yesterday's seminar was City
Military Commander Maj. Gen. Sutiyoso, who was elected by a
majority of city councilors on Tuesday to become the eighth
Jakarta governor.
However, Sutiyoso, who is waiting for President Soeharto's
approval, refused to reply to reporters' questions about
Surjadi's remarks.
During his speech, Surjadi also said that Jakarta should not
grow up alone but in tandem with other cities in the country.
"So villagers can be proud of their own cities and decide to
stop coming to Jakarta," he said.
"Again, I say, Jakarta is not a dream city and many people who
migrate here have failed to make it because they don't have
sufficient skills and education. They eventually earn a living in
informal sectors and become a burden to the administration."
Those who fail normally end up living under bridges, in shacks
along the river banks or even illegally build homes on state-
owned land.
"And if we try to move or relocate them, they screamed and
called us inhuman," he said.
"Siapa suruh datang ke Jakarta? (Who asked you to come to
Jakarta)" he said, citing the title of a famous hit of the 60s.
Another serious problem facing the city is the bad habit of
some city officials to collude with contractors for their own
interests, Surjadi said.
"This also must be stopped by the new governor."
He also revealed the stern action he has taken to protect
southern Jakarta -- the water preservation area -- by refusing to
allow contractors to build in the green area.
"I'm not blaming the governors before me who allowed the green
area to be turned into gas stations or any other building," he
said. "But I don't want the next governor to have to buy and
demolish a building just to make a green area."
Sutiyoso, in his speech, talked only about the security of
Jakarta.
"I'm very afraid if university students go to the streets (to
stage a demonstration) because I might not be so worried if a
preman (hoodlum) was shot but shooting a student could have a
greater impact," he said.
Other speakers at the seminar were criminologist Erlangga
Masdiana from University of Indonesia and Betawi (native
Jakartans) representatives Eddie M. Nalapraya and Yasmine Zaki
Shahab. (07)