Sutiyoso gives subdistricts flood funds

Sutiyoso gives subdistricts flood funds

Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

City Governor Sutiyoso presented Rp 50 million (US$4,900) in
aid to each of the 167 flood-hit subdistrict councils (Dekel)
across the city on Tuesday but the questions of accountability
and the mechanism to be used in disbursing the funds remained
unresolved.

Heads of the Dekel were divided over the two issues.

The Dekel head of Kebon Bawang subdistrict, North Jakarta,
Kosim Khotib, said that the Dekel itself would probably be
accountable for the use of the funds.

"I haven't received any specific instructions from the city
administration on the accountability or the implementation. The
governor only told us to use the aid for emergencies such as for
public toilets. So maybe it is up to us to use the aid as we see
fit", he said.

The same uncertainty was voiced by Karno, the Dekel head of
Pademangan Barat, North Jakarta. "We don't know yet what we'll
spend the money on as our area was not badly affected by the
recent floods," he said. "Maybe we'll use the aid for cleaning up
the gutters, I don't know, we haven't decided yet."

Concerning the issue of accountability, Karno said that he
would appoint one of the Dekel members to supervise the use of
the money as there had been no formal instructions from the
administration.

A more moderate argument on the mechanism came from Gumin Has,
the head of Srengseng Sawah Dekel in South Jakarta.

"Money is a sensitive matter, so I would like to see the
participation of the residents and all the chiefs of the
district, subdistrict and neighborhood units in supervising the
money, so that no irregularities occur," said Gumin.

Heryanto, the subdistrict chief of Mampang Prapatan, South
Jakarta, whose area was still submerged by floodwaters, said that
he had no idea whatsoever about the aid, as it was the
responsibility of the Dekel.

"From what I've been told at the meeting with the governor on
Monday, the Dekel has full responsibility for the implementation
mechanism and accountability. Both the subdistrict and district
chief only act as observers. I think the city Supervision Agency
will oversee the use of the funds," said Heryanto.

Dekel or Dewan Kelurahan is a kind of subdistrict legislative
body consisting of 7 to 10 people depending on the number of
neighborhood units in each subdistrict.

The Dekel members, who each have a monthly salary of Rp
500,000, are elected by each subdistrict's residents.

The Dekel members are usually people from various backgrounds,
even unemployed residents and thugs.

The formation of the body, which was reinstated in 2001, was
based on the City Bylaw No.5/2000.

Meanwhile, Teten Masduki of the Indonesian Corruption Watch
(ICW) said he suspected the funds could be used to campaign for
the strengthening of Sutiyoso's political base.

"The aid campaign is dangerous as its accountability is
uncertain. Moreover, the distribution of the state money could
cause corruption," Teten said.

Teten added that the city administration's decision to provide
funds of the same amount to each subdistrict, regardless of their
level of damage, was just irrational.