NGO decries DPD members meeting with governor
Damar Harsanto, Jakarta
Last Thursday's meeting between Governor Sutiyoso, his officials and the four Regional Representative Council (DPD) members-elect was criticized by the Jakarta Residents Forum (Fakta) on Saturday, which said the DPD members should have asked for input from their constituents and not the governor.
"By asking Sutiyoso about Jakarta's complexities, they will get only superficial answers from him, of course. They will not be able to understand the real problems of the capital," Fakta chairman Azas Tigor Nainggolan told The Jakarta Post.
He called on DPD members to meet immediately their constituents to seek their views, citing that most of the members were unfamiliar with urban problems.
Of the four DPD members-elect, only Biem Triani Benjamin has a background related to Jakarta, especially with Betawi (native Jakartan) people. He is not only of Betawi descent; his father, Benjamin Sueb, was known as a great Betawi artist, while Biem is also a member of the Betawi Assembly.
Besides, he also owns Bens Radio, the only radio station that uses Betawi language instead of Indonesian in its broadcasting.
Sarwono Kusumaatmadja is a former state minister of the environment and former minister of maritime affairs and fisheries; Mooryati Soedibyo is known as a cosmetics businesswoman while Marwan Batubara is a senior executive with state-owned telecommunications firm PT Indosat.
At Thursday's meeting, Sarwono blamed ill-informed residents for their failure to understand most of policies produced by the administration. He also said that if the people understood more of the policies, their objections would be significantly reduced.
Sarwono declined to comment on criticism leveled at the City Council with regard to major problems in the capital, saying the council was gathering information on the issues concerned.
During the meeting, the DPD members also made a proposal to Sutiyoso for a joint secretariat office at City Hall.
Marwan, however, brushed aside worries that DPD members would be less critical after Thursday's meeting.
"Please, keep in mind that DPD members will not have a single voice ... We are not a homogeneous group," he said, adding that he would remain critical of Sutiyoso's administration.
"During the meeting, Sutiyoso simply boasted about all the successes that he claimed to have achieved during his tenure -- that's normal. However, I have many other sources, who have also worked with him, and they have revealed many negative aspects of his administration," he added.
Commenting on the request for an office at City Hall, Marwan promised that it would not prevent DPD members from continuing to be critical of the administration.
"Don't worry. The office facility doesn't mean we're controlled by the administration. The office is merely a place for us to make it easier for our constituents to reach us," he said.
The DPD and House of Representatives will jointly constitute the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), the highest legislative body in the country.
The amended 1945 Constitution entrusts DPD members with the right to initiate legislation on regional autonomy, relations between the central and regional administrations, the establishment of autonomous regions, resource management and revenue-sharing between the central and regional administrations.
The DPD, however, has been given no decisive function in the law-making process as its members will not be involved in the final deliberation of bills.