No popular power

No popular power

Sometimes as Jakartans we feel ourselves to be residents of a metropolitan city. But when we look at the public facilities, Jakarta is much left behind compared with the world's metropolises. Sidewalks are mostly occupied by vendors or sometimes there are no sidewalks at all. Public toilets are rare and if there are around, they are filthy and stink.

Worse still is public transportation. It is really torturing to travel by public transportation, particularly by bus. The buses are not fully road-worthy and the passengers are packed inside like sardines. Even in air-conditioned buses, the situation is the same, especially during rush hours.

Complaints are hardly ever responded to. More likely you get a threat: You don't like it? Get off. But must we stay away from the office just because of bad buses or misbehaving bus crew?

Also in the spotlight is the alteration in the designation of a place. Kelapa Gading residents have lodged a protest against the change in the designation of social and public facilities or office houses into apartments.

We have learned before that certain areas in Menteng, Kebayoran and Kemang have undergone a change in their designation into a business area while in fact they were designated as a residential area. The result is confusion.

Finally, there is a revision because the original environment cannot be re-obtained. The old occupants suffer because of the presence of a lot of passing cars, pollution, traffic jams or a lack of ground water.

How does the Jakarta provincial administration respond to these complaints about a change in designation? Projects must go on because the regional administration has the authority and because the residents have no right to stop the project.

Perhaps the power holders hear the people's complaints but are yet to be moved to take sides with the people.

-- Warta Kota, Jakarta.