New vice governor vows to slash irrelevant red tape

New vice governor vows to slash irrelevant red tape

JAKARTA (JP): Former Central Jakarta mayor Abdul Kahfi moved
into his new deputy governor's office at the city hall yesterday
and immediately promised to cut unnecessary red tape and waste in
the administration.

"I will improve on my predecessor's policies. I'll look at
areas that are particularly susceptible to corruption," said the
Army colonel who is now deputy governor for administrative
affairs.

Kahfi was one of two deputy governors sworn in by Minister of
Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M. yesterday.

The other is Maj. Gen. (ret) Djaelani, a native-born Jakartan
who formerly served as assistant to the minister of population.
He is the new deputy governor for welfare affairs.

After the swearing-in ceremony at the Ministry of Home
Affairs, the two men dashed across Monas square for the transfer
of duty ceremony at City Hall.

Kahfi took over from Idroes and Djaelani replaced R. Museno.

Both Idroes and Museno will be installed next Wednesday as new
members of the House of Representatives.

The two new deputy governors will serve under Jakarta Governor
Surjadi Soedirdja for ten days until he is replaced by Maj. Gen.
Sutiyoso on Oct. 6.

A third deputy, T.B. Rais who handles economic development, is
not due to be replaced until next year.

One of Kahfi's top priorities will be to put the Kemang area
in South Jakarta into order, and this, he said, meant taking
stern action against both property owners who violated their
building permits and officials who issued the permits in the
first place.

"I will be consistent in implementing the city's spatial
plan," he said, adding that he had been reviewing the case with
Idroes.

Most of the buildings on Jl. Kemang Raya and Jl. Ampera Raya
have been converted into restaurants and cafes, although the
spatial plan limits the number of properties that can be used for
commercial uses to no more than 15 percent.

Governor Surjadi issued an instruction on March 18 to restore
all properties in the area to their proper use and this meant
closing many restaurants and cafes.

Most restaurant and cafe owners in the area however resisted
the move, saying they had the necessary permits to operate there.

An investigation later found that various agencies, including
central government ones, had issued the licenses.

Both Kahfi and Djaelani promised to rise to the challenges of
their new jobs.

"I know that the duties will be hard, but I'll try to do my
best," Djaelani said, who refrained further comment. "I'm still
studying my new duties," he said.

Born in Banyuwangi on 30 May 1942, Kahfi is a 1966 graduate of
the Armed Forces Academy. He spent most of his military career in
the Army's Special Force before moving into the city
administration office in 1980.

Born in Jakarta on 17 June 1942, Djaelani graduated from the
Armed Forces Academy in 1967, a year after he graduated from the
University of Indonesia School of Medicine.

Surjadi said the two deputies must anticipate the challenges
facing Jakarta and must be innovative and creative.

He also praised Idroes and Museno and wished them good luck in
their new duties as representatives of the people. (07)