Surjadi brief new councilors

Surjadi brief new councilors

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Surjadi Soedirdja reminded newly
elected city councilors yesterday to avoid narrow-minded
political notions after they are installed on Friday.

Speaking at the opening of a two-day briefing for new
councilors at City Hall, he said they should not make
irresponsible statements just to popularize themselves.

"You should give priority to the nation's interest rather than
your parties'. Soon after a general election is over, a party's
interest should be over too," Surjadi said.

He said councilors could give better statements based on a
thorough study of matters, or through reading. "Better statements
will prevent others from ridiculing you," he said.

Among speakers at the briefing was City Directorate of Social
and Political Affairs head Bagus Suharyono.

All 75 new councilors, including the only one from the
Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), will be installed on Friday.
They will serve on the City Council until 2002.

In the May 29 general election, the three contestants -- the
United Development Party (PPP), the Golkar faction and PDI --
competed for 60 council seats. The remaining 15 seats were
reserved for the Armed Forces (ABRI), whose members did not vote.

PPP won 20 council seats in this year's election, while Golkar
won 39 and PDI one.

Surjadi also called for better coordination between city
officials and councilors to solve Jakarta's problems.

Jakarta cannot solve its problems alone, but needs better
coordination with the government and other provincial
administrations as well, he said.

He said that coordination with Greater Jakarta administrations
was badly needed to prevent the mushrooming of migrants in the
capital city.

"We should also improve cooperation between city officials and
councilors on major issues, including the improvement of quality
of human resources," Surjadi said.

Among problems, which could not be solved in a short period of
time, was the improvement of welfare of Jakarta's nine million
people, he said.

"Jakarta is facing various large problems which can't be
solved within a certain development period, but should be handled
consistently in the long-term," Surjadi said.

Moreover, he said, Jakarta should strive to improve its image
as the country's capital so it could have equal position with
other large Asian cities.

All new councilors attended the briefing yesterday.

Of the 20 new PPP councilors, only four were reelected, while
of Golkar's 39 councilors, seven were incumbents. PDI was
represented by only one councilor, Lukman F. Mokoginta.

ABRI appointed 15 councilors, with only three incumbents.

Yesterday evening, current council members held a farewell
party at the Wisma Bhayangkara building in South Jakarta.

The event was attended by Council Speaker M.H. Ritonga and
Governor Surjadi. (ste)