'Officials should uphold the law'

Many Jakarta residents have expressed hope that the administration would introduce improvements, especially in public services. But what the public wants and what it gets is rarely the same. In commemorating the city's 475th anniversary, some residents share their views with The Jakarta Post.

Suhana Natawilwana, a lawyer and vice gubernatorial candidate. He lives in Rawamangun, East Jakarta.

I wish that Jakartans, rich and poor alike, could live in harmony, with no more evictions taking place because such problems would be solved through dialog.

Officials of the administration, including the governor, should look around them and take notice of what is happening with residents, on the streets and in residential areas.

Officials should uphold the law before expecting residents to do so. Officials involved in irregularities should be punished.

Joe Fernandez, 40, an urban architect who works in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta.

I must say that the capital needs a tough leader, one with a clear vision of how to lead a multi-ethnic region like Jakarta. The issue of the next governor's ethnicity has been raised by certain groups of people, which is no longer relevant for a leader in the city.

There are two main issues on which the next governor should focus. First, the next governor should have a clear concept of how to clean up the bureaucracy because public services in the capital are notoriously bad and are getting worse. Due to corruption within the bureaucracy, Jakartans are forced to spend extra money on public services.

Second, whoever the next governor is, the person should pay proper attention to the poor. They should be included in the city's development and not left on the sidelines. They should be given a chance to develop too.

Turman, 35, an elementary school teacher in Central Jakarta. He has lived in the city since 1986.

What do I want from Jakarta in the future? Well, I don't expect much, but obviously I want improvements, particularly in education.

Don't talk about the quality of education here. Some popular schools provide a quality education, but unfortunately only a limited number of people can afford it.

Most schools here don't provide a proper education with complete facilities and good programs due to a lack of funds.

Many children, especially street children, cannot go to school because their parents cannot afford it. I think the administration needs to address the problem seriously because it relates to the country's future.

These children deserve a free education, but I don't think the administration could manage that as even teachers' welfare is neglected.

Daryatmo, 58, an engineering consultant and gubernatorial candidate. He lives in Tanjung Duren, West Jakarta.

Having a huge celebration to mark the city's anniversary is just a waste of money. So was the Rp 14 billion (US$1.62 million) spent on the renovation of the fountain in the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle.

I think the money would have been better spent managing street vendors. The budget would have been more useful in helping the vendors develop their businesses.

I hope in the future the administration will provide plots for street vendors to enable them to display their merchandise so that they will no longer take up parts of sidewalks and disrupt traffic. -- JP