New Jakarta councilors lack required skills: Expert

JAKARTA (JP): An expert on state administration has expressed doubts over the capability of city councilors elected for the 1999 to 2004 period for dealing with and providing solutions to city problems.

"I do not observe the candidates' constructive vision and mission for the city's development," said Benyamin Husein from the University of Indonesia's School of State Administration.

Benyamin made the comments at a debate on Monday assessing the qualifications and visions of the city council candidates. The event, organized by the Cipta Bangsa Forum, was held at Sahid Jaya Hotel in Central Jakarta.

Also present were head of the city's development planning board Bambang Sungkono and assistant to the Coordinating Minister for Development Supervision and State Administrative Reforms J.B. Kristiadi.

Benyamin said candidates had failed to communicate their views on how to cope with the city's multiethnic residents, empower the people, introduce strategies to simplify bureaucracy in the city administration and provide people with direct access to the council.

Candidates also failed to show their strategies to anticipate the city's increased autonomy, granted by the House of Representatives (DPR) last month, he said.

Benyamin, who has been involved in drafting the newly endorsed law on regional administration, said the party candidates' visions were not visionary and were also difficult to implement.

The debate also featured representatives from three major political parties -- the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), the United Development Party (PPP) and the National Mandate Party (PAN).

Maringan Pangaribuan of PDI Perjuangan said the party's main goals were to increase people's welfare and improve conditions for marginalized people.

"We'll study all of the city administration's policies, especially those related to public facilities.

"If they do not comply with the people's aspirations, we'll suggest that such regulations be reviewed," he said.

He said all of PDI Perjuangan's legislative candidates had been instructed to ensure city's spending was accountable.

M. Suardi of PAN said his party would fight for the establishment of a special commission to eradicate practices of collusion, corruption and nepotism.

"The ongoing city council found it difficult to control the administration because of its limited authority. But, our party will fight for the council's greater role as it has been guaranteed in the Law on Regional Administration," he said.

Suardi said the party would also fight for a just implementation of taxes. He cited the equal amount of taxes charged by the city administration to people of all different socioeconomic backgrounds living in Central Jakarta's elite Menteng area.

Chairman of PPP's Jakarta chapter Djafar Badjeber did not present his views, but said: "Experience shows that getting involved in the council is like getting into a forest where people have no idea how to start to develop the city." (ind)