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

'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