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

'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?