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)