New Jakarta councilors lack required skills: Expert

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)