Surjadi vows to improve Jakartans' lives
JAKARTA (JP): Governor Surjadi Soedirdja has pledged to improve the economic and social conditions of Jakartans as well as the city's environment to face the 21st century .
Low-cost apartment and minimarket projects in all subdistricts are evidence of the administration's seriousness in caring for the residents, Surjadi said when speaking at the city council's extraordinary plenary meeting to commemorate Jakarta's 469th anniversary yesterday.
"The administration will continue such development programs because they have proven positive in improving all aspects of people's lives," the governor said.
The plenary meeting was attended by city councillors, the director general of rural development, H.M. Siagian, as well as former governors Tjokropranolo and Wiyogo Atmodarminto.
Surjadi said that low-cost apartments are the answer to housing problems faced by the poor. The project can also provide the capital with more green areas.
"Jakartans who previously lived in slum areas, which are prone to fires and floods, can now live safer and better in apartments. I am glad that many poor families have asked the administration to build apartments for them," he said.
During the sixth five-year development plan, which started two years ago, the city needs to build a total of 10,500 low-cost apartments per year but due to financial problems, the city administration can only afford to build 3,150 apartments. Private developers are expected to build the remaining 7,450 units.
So far, the administration has built a total of 1,456 low-cost apartments in Tanah Tinggi, Jati Bunder, Karet Tengsin in Central Jakarta, Bulak Wadon and Bidara Cina in East Jakarta, and Tebet Barat in South Jakarta.
Minimarkets
When speaking about warung serba ada (minimarkets), whose capital comes from local residents, Surjadi said that a minimarket is planned for each of Jakarta's 265 subdistricts. There are still 254 to be built.
"The minimarkets provide various food stuff with low prices," he said.
Surjadi did not say if studies had been conducted to compare the economic condition of a community before a minimarket opened and after a minimarket opened.
He said that by going to minimarkets, people do not have to go to shopping centers or markets. "In this way, hectic traffic conditions could be lessened," he said.
Meanwhile, City Council Chairman M.H. Ritonga praised the administration's achievements in various fields, including cleanliness, for which the city mayoralties received the Adipura award.
However, Ritonga criticized the administration for not improving its main task: to serve the public.
"The city must improve its service to the public to deal with the city's rapid development. It is important to eliminate bribery. The public deserves good services," he said.
On Friday night, Surjadi celebrated the city's anniversary with thousands of Jakartans when he visited public entertainment spots in East Jakarta, the Jakarta Fair and Taman Impian Jaya at Ancol.
The governor celebrated the first minute of June 22 by dancing with several performers on the stage at Ancol's art market while firecrackers lit up the sky.
"I thank you for your participation in building the city and I hope you will always support our programs, which aim to make the city as beautiful as other capital cities in the world," Surjadi told the audiences.
Each mayoralty gave the public free shows featuring local artists such as dang dut (Indian-beat influenced music) singer Itje Trisnawati in East Jakarta and pop singers Rida-Sita-Dewi, AB Three, Yana Julio and Krisdayanti in Ancol.(yns)