Sutiyoso has left work unfinished, says 'Dekel'

Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The City Council approved Governor Sutiyoso's 2001 budget statement on Friday even though it had to go to a vote.

However, some subdistrict council members said on Saturday that the governor still had some unfinished business left, especially as regards his weakness in fighting corruption and his inconsistent policies, such as in the case of becak (pedicab) drivers .

"We still don't see Sutiyoso's seriousness in fighting corruption, collusion and nepotism in the city. That's his weakest point," A. Kadir Junaidi Salad of Kebayoran Lama Utara subdistrict, South Jakarta, told The Jakarta Post.

However, Kadir still gave two thumbs up to Sutiyoso's concern for the people's welfare, including his allocation of funds for flood victims.

The flood victims themselves have filed a lawsuit against the Jakarta Governor, West Java Governor and the President in a class action suit over the defendants' perceived failure to provide sufficient warning of the floods and their late response when the calamity took place.

The 65-year-old Kadir, who has lived under several Jakarta governors, said only former governor Ali Sadikin could crack down his unscrupulous subordinates.

"Now there's bribery in every city office. It's common knowledge that many project leaders in city agencies collude with businessmen in implementing projects," he said.

Another unsolved issue was raised by Asep Edi Effendi, a councillor in Pejagalan subdistrict, North Jakarta. He questioned Sutiyoso's seriousness in closing down the Kalijodo brothel and gambling complex in the area.

Asep said many prostitutes had started operating again on the sites of the former brothels, which had been demolished by the Jakarta Public Order Agency, as they had found out that the administration was not serious about the plan.

"They set up plastic tents when they found out there would be no follow-up from the administration after the demolitions in February," he said.

Madlar, chairman of the Bukit Duri subdistrict council in Tebet district, South Jakarta, also pointed to the administration's slow work in rehabilitating the nearby Ciliwung river.

He recalled that Sutiyoso had promised to dredge the Ciliwung river in order to prepare for next year's rainy season. So far, no work had been carried out.

Madlar said that if the dredging of the Ciliwung river did not begin this year, another big flood, such as occurred earlier this year, would hit the city.

"We suffered from big floods this year. The administration must take action to prevent a similar calamity taking place next year," he said.

Madlar also criticized the administration's sluggish efforts in responding to social problems relating to street vendors and squatters living along riverbanks.

"The public order agency officers do nothing when some vendors begin to occupy prohibited areas. But when the number grows significantly, only then do they take repressive action. The same thing happens in the case of riverbank squatters," he said.

But the subdistrict councillors declined to comment on whether Sutiyoso should be reelected for a second term. They argued that it was up to the city councillors to make this decision.

Sutiyoso will face a tough challenge from Roy B.B. Janis of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, the biggest party on the City Council with 30 seats, in October's gubernatorial election.