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)