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)