'Sutiyoso has failed to perform well'

Governor Sutiyoso will deliver his accountability speech before City Council on Thursday. It is a crucial moment that will decide if he is eligible to run for the next gubernatorial race. Several Jakarta residents shared their views on the administration's performance.

Frieda Pujiwati, 30, runs a private local tour agency. She was born in Jakarta and now resides in Ragunan, South Jakarta.

"I don't know much about Governor Sutiyoso as a person. I just know him from newspapers and television. In my personal opinion, his performance is somewhat poor.

If I were a councillor, I would reject his accountability report as he has failed to perform well as the governor of Jakarta.

There is a lot of clear evidence to prove that he is incompetent in coping with the recent floods in Jakarta last January and February. His lack of preparation and slow response to the public's outcry are his fundamental shortcomings.

Sutiyoso also fails to pay proper attention to the public at the grassroots level. His dislike of pedicab drivers, for example, clearly shows that he has no concern for poor people.

Look for a new governor instead of him as it would give Jakarta a better future in the years to come."

Sally, a housewife and mother of one child. She lives in Kebon Jeruk, West Jakarta.

"I don't know why most of the city councillors still plan to re-elect Governor Sutiyoso despite his poor performance of his administration. They probably still prefer Sutiyoso merely because of their political interests, not because of the public's.

I think Sutiyoso fails to uphold public order and security in the city. Jakarta has become more dangerous with a lot of crimes happening during the day, not just at night.

His administration also failed in preventing the recent spate of flooding in the city.

The governor seems to concentrate on evicting poor people living on the river banks, and not doing anything useful for Jakartans. The development of the Hotel Indonesia water fountain is one example of how the administration just wastes people's money.

Vincentius G. Kurnianto, 33, a computer programmer at a private company. Born in Yogyakarta, he is now a resident of Tanjung Duren Timur in West Jakarta. He has been living in the city for eight years.

"Sutiyoso's leadership is not far off from the New Order regime. How can the city be well-developed if we have a leader like that? Count how many evictions he's conducted or how he has washed his hands of public responsibility when asked about it.

Despite his poor performance, the city council could approve his accountability speech (because of political deals).

And what can we do to stop him? Nothing! Public disagreement is of no avail, I guess.

I wonder though, if the council rejects his accountability speech, would it be of any use? He would surely keep on nominating himself as a gubernatorial candidate.

I suppose we are watching a circus in which we can't do anything but observe." --JP