NGO decries DPD members meeting with governor

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.