Outgoing councilors ready for return to everyday life

Outgoing councilors ready for return to everyday life

JAKARTA (JP): As construction workers spruce up offices for
newly elected members of the City Council, outgoing councilors
are packing their belongings and preparing themselves for the
return to civilian life.

Most of the outgoing councilors from the council's four
factions said they would return to their past professions but
remain vigilant in monitoring developments in the city through
their political parties.

Mulyaningsih, a member of the United Development Party (PPP)
faction, said she would reassume her duties as principal of the
Permata and Al Husna Islamic kindergartens in North Jakarta,
which she relinquished after being elected to the council in
1997.

"I'll have more time and pay more attention to improving the
performance of the Association of Islamic Kindergartens in
Greater Jakarta."

Other PPP councilors M. Zainal and Laduni Gaos are looking to
return to business ventures.

Laduni said he was planning to become involved in a fishery
business located in Jasinga subdistrict, Bogor.

"It's a family business, with relatives of mine and my wife
involved," he said.

Zainal said he would strengthen his shipping and cargo
business.

"The shipping and cargo business has slowed down due to the
economic crisis. I hope it can survive if I seriously jump into
the business."

PPP was second in the overall poll results for the city from
the June 7 elections, securing 13 seats on the 76-seat City
Council. However, it marked a decrease from its current 20.

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan)
won the most seats with 29.

The National Mandate Party (PAN) was third with 12 seats,
followed by Golkar with seven seats, a comedown from its present
31.

The Justice Party (PK) ranked fifth with three seats, the
National Awakening Party (PKB) gained two seats and the Crescent
Star Party (PBB) one seat.

Dozens of outgoing councilors from Golkar and the lone member
of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) faction, Lukman
Mokoginta, will establish a consulting group to concentrate on
evaluating the performance of the next City Council.

"We will always follow up and evaluate the performance of both
the City Council and the city administration. We hope we can
contribute to the betterment of the two institutions," Nitra
Arsyad, one of the group's founders, said.

Asserting that the group would mainly consist of "critical"
members of the outgoing council, he said it would be open to
outgoing councilors from other factions.

Other Golkar councilors said they would remain active in the
party.

"I will enjoy my retirement, but at the same time will also be
active in education affairs," said Sulaiman S.B. Ismaya, a former
elementary school and junior high school teacher.

Agus Waluyo of Golkar said he would concentrate his efforts on
his foundation for youth empowerment and development.

Construction workers have been kept busy building walls to
divide the rooms used by the council's current four factions into
smaller ones for the new crop of councilors.

"Each party securing a lot of seats in the council will get
one room for its chairperson, one main room for its members and
another for administrative staff. Parties with a sole member will
get one room each," said Suparmo, owner of the construction firm
handling the renovations.

He said his construction crew was working round-the-clock on
the Rp 160 million project to ensure its completion by Aug. 25,
the date of the inauguration of the new council. (ind)