PDI supports unification of Greater Jakarta
PDI supports unification of Greater Jakarta
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) faction of
the City Council has urged the government to join Jakarta, Bogor,
Tangerang and Bekasi (Jabotabek) under one authority to harmonize
the development in the areas.
Chairman of the PDI faction Lukman F. Mokoginta told a press
conference yesterday that unification will enable the government
to synchronize development in the Greater Jakarta area.
"Currently, there is unfair competition among the
administrations of Bekasi, Bogor and Tangerang in their
development programs. This tends to ruin the development program
of the capital," Lukman said.
He cited the rapid development of residential housing in Bogor
regency, whereas Jakarta has been working hard to preserve the
areas bordering the Bogor regency as water catchment areas.
Flooding and a shortage of groundwater are the result of this
contradictory policy, he said.
"The number of people commuting from those cities in West Java
to Jakarta is another problem. Traffic congestion in the areas
close to the borders cannot be avoided," he said.
Those problems indicate that Jakarta, Bogor, Tangerang and
Bekasi each have their own forms of city planning which conflict
with each other due to their own interests, Lukman said.
The existing Jabotabek development coordination board, which
was supposed to coordinate and synchronize developments in those
cities, has so far failed to do its task properly.
"The body is a reflection of a perfect concept. But
practically, it has not yet managed to accord the Jakarta and
West Java concepts in development. Both administrations keep on
implementing their own policies," he said.
Controversy over Jabotabek's unification began last month
after former state environment minister Emil Salim said that a
governor with the authority level of a minister was needed to
govern Greater Jakarta, which now houses at least 15 million
people.
Emil said in a monthly lecture for city administration
employees that a single management would be better and able to
improve public services. Emil said such an improvement would be
necessary for Jakarta, which will play an increasingly
international role as a growth center in the Southeast Asian
region. He estimated that by the 21st century, the population of
Greater Jakarta will reach between 20 million and 25 million.
According to Emil, the unification concept would also support
a decentralization program, which is urgent for economic autonomy
to face upcoming competition.
West Java Governor R. Nuriana was against Emil's concept,
which he said would create many problems.
Councilor Lukman F. Mokoginta said yesterday that one
authority would be powerful in decision making.
"It would also be much simpler for the authorities of the four
areas to coordinate their development programs," he added.
He said the faction has three alternatives to consider for the
management of a merged Jabotabek.
"The first is to appoint Jakarta's governor as head of Greater
Jakarta. He is responsible directly to the President.
The second is appointing a coordinating minister who coordinates
the development programs from both the West Java and Jakarta
provincial administrations. The third is to include Bogor, Bekasi
and Tangerang under Jakarta municipality authority," he said.
Under the third proposal, the governor of Jakarta would be
responsible for development in those cities, he said. (yns)