'Sutiyoso has failed to perform well'

'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