'Sutiyoso? I don't think I like him'

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Governor Sutiyoso's five-year term will end in October. Despite widespread criticism of his failure to handle various urban problems, including garbage disposal, flood control and the practice of corruption, collusion and nepotism, Sutiyoso survived last week's accountability speech. This gives him a chance to be nominated for a second term.

Many things have happened during Sutiyoso's tenure, which obviously have affected people's lives. For the next month, The Jakarta Post will run this column to take a look at what Jakartans have to say about Sutiyoso.

Erlangga, 50, is a high school graduate who lives in Setiabudi subdistrict, South Jakarta, and works as an ojek (pedicab) driver. He was born in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, and has been living in the city since the 1970s.

Sutiyoso, eh? I don't think I like him. I can't even recall what he has been done for the residents here. As far as I know, he hates poor people such as street vendors. He has raids conducted on them periodically to evict them without giving them proper alternatives.

He favors the interests of the rich, I guess. I have never seen the city administration evicting the rich.

Sutiyoso has not done his best to improve the city. My life has become more difficult under his administration. It's not easy 4to get work for a better life. All that I can do now is just survive, to feed my family of four children.

I like (former governor) Ali Sadikin better than Sutiyoso. The conditions during his term were different, of course. But life was easier at that time (in the 1970s). I could still save some money. Now, it's impossible.

Choiri, 60, is an elementary school graduate who lives in Kebon Kacang, Central Jakarta, and works as a sidewalk vendor, in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta. He was born in Mojokerto, East Jakarta, and moved to the city in the 1960s.

I don't know him. I have no idea what to say ... Oh, yeah ... he is the governor! He is not good, not good.

The administration did not help me when I became an evacuee during the recent floods. I have no family and my rented room was flooded. Someone helped me during the flood. No officials helped, not even the subdistrict chief.

There is no significant improvement in my life during his term of office. I am still a sidewalk vendor years after I entered the business in 1973. I was raided several times that's why I have no savings. Public order officers conducted the raid.

I only know Ali Sadikin. Sutiyoso is worse than him. At that time, I could still feed my family, my wife and child. But now, I am divorced and my child has died, I have to work my best to feed myself.

Sukur, 31, is a vocational school graduate who lives in Kebayoran Lama, South Jakarta, and works as a parking attendant, in Slipi, West Jakarta. He was born in Kebumen, Central Java, and has lived in Jakarta since 1991.

Sutiyoso is not bad, apart from the evictions he has had conducted against the poor and street vendors. I can't say whether I like him or I hate him.

He probably has done his job but probably not his best. And of course, he must have made some mistakes. People blamed him for the recent floods, I know. But I think it was the negligence of previous governors as well.

My life is much the same as it was before he was installed as governor. I was a parking attendant 10 years ago and I still am now, although I have a vocational school diploma.

Sutiyoso has had no remarkable achievements, as far as I know. Public transportation is still awful, medical treatment is still expensive, education is a luxury.

He is just like his predecessors. They are all the same. No favors for the needy. What can I say?