Strenghten ties between Jakarta, W. Java: Surjadi

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Surjadi Soedirdja says that the cooperation between Jakarta and West Java should be improved to coordinate developments in the two regions.

Surjadi said that cooperation between the two regions has been relatively weak because existing regulations do not accommodate the interests of both sides.

"It is true that the cooperation has been too weak because each region has its own concept of development. As a result the developments of West Java regions, which border Jakarta, such as Bogor, Tangerang and Bekasi (Botabek), have never been compatible with the development of Jakarta," Surjadi told reporters yesterday in a press conference to commemorate his third year as governor.

He said Jakarta needed to keep its southern part as a water catchment in a bid to preserve groundwater but, on the other hand, the West Java administration intends to develop the regions adjacent to Jakarta's water catchment area by allowing contractors to develop housing complexes.

"Such misunderstandings should be overcome because the effect will not only harm Jakarta but it will also damage the West Java areas in the long run," he said.

Third year

Surjadi said that the best way to deal with this problem is to intensify communication between the two administrations and reach better a understanding about developing the greater Jakarta area.

Surjadi, who took office Oct. 6, 1992 replacing Wiyogo Atmodarminto, is known as a quiet person who prefers action to words. He is also known for consistency in implementing his policies, especially in creating a clean government.

He has often reminded his subordinates that they work to serve the people and not the other way around.

He has had more than 120 city employees punished for various violations since 1993.

Surjadi, known as a devout Moslem, introduced the Jakarta Teguh Beriman motto, an abbreviation for continued efforts to live in a clean, beautiful, humane and secure manner, in 1992.

"The motto was meant to become a bastion against everything unsuitable to the morale of Jakartans," he said.

Speaking of people's incomes, Surjadi said Jakarta's per capita income was US$3,109 in 1994, the highest in the country.

Jakarta has won various awards under his administration, from the prestigious Parasamya Purna Karya Nugraha award to the Adipura Award for achievements in development and cleanliness.

However, he said what Jakarta has achieved is a result of a long process pioneered by his predecessors.

This year the administration has launched several large projects such as a subway and land reclamation. (yns)