'Sutiyoso has tough job'

'Sutiyoso has tough job'

Today's topic is the performance of Governor Sutiyoso, but it was
interesting that many civil servants at City Hall refused to
comment on the governor, whose term ends in October. Some agreed
to be interviewed, but asked The Jakarta Post not to print their
names. Most of them said they were afraid they would be "in
danger" if their identity was known.

Muchayat, born in Jakarta 51 years ago, a graduate of the
National Institute of Administration (LAN), lives in Kalibata,
South Jakarta.

Maintaining security in the city during the economic and
political crisis, especially after the massive ethnic riots in
1998, was one of Sutiyoso's many significant achievements that I
could mention.

Sutiyoso's tenure is far different compared with other city
governors in past years, as he has had a heavier burden. Too many
problems have to be faced by the governor. Not all the problems
could be thoroughly handled, no matter who the governor was.

People have changed and have become more critical, especially
of the administration. Most development programs have been
criticized as useless.

Of course, there were irregularities and weaknesses in the
programs, but they were always corrected and improved.

Mahpud, 38, a cleaning service employee at City Hall for three
years. He lives in a rented house in the Manggarai area of South
Jakarta.

It seems that Sutiyoso devotes most of his attention to
employees outside City Hall, such as increasing minimum wages. He
should realize that many employees here at City Hall are
underpaid.

The official minimum wage in the city is Rp 590,000, while my
26 colleagues and I are paid only Rp 310,000 a month by a private
company which has a one-year contract with the administration.

Andi, 40, is a high school graduate who has been a civil
servant at City Hall for almost 20 years.

Sutiyoso does not pay attention to "ordinary" civil servants,
especially their future when they are due to retire. No matter
what their achievements are or how long they have served the
administration, they all receive a similar amount from the
pension insurance fund (Taspen).

Besides receiving a monthly pension, which is half of their
wage upon retirement, a civil servant receives about Rp 19
million (US$1,900) when they retire at the age of 55 years old.

What can we do with such a small amount of money?

The pension fund should be increased so that we could use it,
for example, as capital to start a new business.

Many employees' children are still in school when they retire.

Dani Anwar, A city councillor from the Justice Party, 34,
lives on Jl. Kebon Pala, Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta.

Sutiyoso's administration has not shown any improvement from
year to year. We have criticized the administration over
allegations of corruption and collusion.

That's why our faction rejected Sutiyoso's accountability
speech last month.