'One's honor is measured by keeping one's word'

Political analysts expressed doubt there will be significant changes in the city after learning that the new forces at the City Council -- the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and Democratic Party -- failed to unite in the council speakership election. Ahmad Heriyawan of the PKS was defeated by Golkar Party candidate Ade Surapriatna. The Jakarta Post asked some residents their expectations of the new councillors.

Darwis, 30, works as a security guard at the Bung Karno sports complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta. He lives with his wife and daughter in Meruya, West Jakarta:

My hopes and expectations of the new City Council members are quite simple.

There is a saying that one's honor is measured by how one acts accordingly to one's words, so the new council members should remember all the promises they have made during the elections.

If they have promised not to be corrupt, then they should not be taking any bribes from anyone.

They should also not corrupt time by being absent or sleeping during council meetings, in the illusion that being a council member is all about enriching themselves with facilities paid for by the public.

If they have promised to speak up for the people, then they should always be open to hear us out. They should not be like others, who are usually so arrogant and say they are too busy once they have become an official.

I have serious doubts that the new council members will be any better then the former ones, but who knows. We'll just see.

Sita Planasari Aquadini, 25, is a reporter for Tempo newsroom. She lives in a rented house with her friends in Mampang, South Jakarta:

Obviously I expect councillors to be honest, to have integrity and to fight for the well-being of the people. We chose them to be our voices, to strive to solve the many problems that Jakarta has.

I have already observed money politics early in their tenure when they chose the chairman. I think they will be the same as their predecessors.

My hope is that we will go with a district system in the future. That way, the councillors can be voted out by the constituents.

In such a system, people will vote for a name, and that person will answer to those who voted for him or her.

In the current system, the party already chose the top names for us, those who will be more likely to be councillors.

There has to be a change in this paradigm to being responsible to the people, instead of to the party.

--The Jakarta Post