Profiles: Jakarta councillors

Profiles: Jakarta councillors

Amid allegations of vote-buying during the election for the
Jakarta Council speaker, councillors have pledged to work
together to fight institutional corruption and create a better,
more humane city for residents. The Jakarta Post's Bambang
Nurbianto has gathered profiles on the 75 councillors, along with
their thoughts on the most pertinent issues for the capital. Here
are profiles on councillors from the Nation Awakening Party (PKB)
and the Star Reform Party (PBR) factions.

Moh Mansur Syaerozi
PKB
Born in Banyuwangi, East Java, 1957
Education: Diploma from the National Banking Academy, Jakarta
Wealth: Rp 959.50 million (US$106,611)

Changing the image of the City Council is one of my objectives
within my term here. Reform started six years ago, but the
current condition is not much better than before. Some say it is
worse, as those who voiced anticorruption campaign during the
past regime are now part of the problems.

Before the inauguration ceremony, my wife told me not to
betray this mandate given by the people. I promised myself to do
my best so that my constituents will not be disappointed in
voting for me.

I have an agenda on the empowerment of people's economy.

I think we have to encourage the people to open small and
medium enterprises because such businesses will create many jobs.
Therefore, the City Council must push the administration to
significantly allocate funds for programs focusing on small and
medium-scale businesses.

Fathi Rahmatullah
PBR
Born in Jakarta, 1963
Education: Diploma from Jayabaya Accountancy Academy, Jakarta
Wealth: Rp 308,50 million

The welfare of the people in the grassroot level must become
our priority. The City Council must focus on economic
development. With better economic conditions, we will be able to
create a lot of jobs.

But I believe that the economic development has a close
relation with security condition. The economy will grow well if
we have good security. Therefore, we must seriously address the
security problem.

Law enforcement, I think, is the answer. We must punish those
who violate any regulations. If we do not punish those who commit
wrongdoings, it will become a bad precedence for law enforcement.
It will inspire others to do the same thing.

About the relations between the City Council and the city
administration, both institutions must be partners. The City
Council must encourage the administration to formulate policies
that are only for people's interests.

Councillors must be critical against policies that are against
people's interests.

Yusuf Hamdani
PBR
Born in Jakarta, 1935
Education: Vocational High School for Economics
Wealth: Rp 6.78 billion

Annual flooding is a serious problem in the city. It seems
that we are powerless to resolve it. But I believe that we have
not done our best. I think, resolving the flood problem should
involve all Jakartans.

For example, each resident must have a well to accommodate
rain water. If all houses in the city have such wells, they will
significantly reduce flooding. It will also resolve water
scarcity during dry season.

Meanwhile, the city administration must go ahead with its
flood control projects. The construction of the Eastern Flood
Canal must become our priority. The public work agency must
continuously maintain rivers to help the smooth flow of water
from upper areas.

Garbage is another serious problem in the city. It seems that
the city administration has no concrete concept on how to resolve
it. We still rely on Bantar Gebang dump in Bekasi to handle 6,000
tons of garbage Jakartans produce everyday.

I hope the administration will soon formulate a concept of
waste management so that we will not rely on other regions
anymore.