Sutiyoso has left work unfinished, says 'Dekel'

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.