Sutiyoso installed as Jakarta's governor
Sutiyoso installed as Jakarta's governor
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M.
installed Maj. Gen. Sutiyoso as Jakarta's eighth governor at a
City Council special plenary session yesterday.
Hours before the ceremony started, hundreds of invited guests
-- including officials and businesspeople -- had already packed
the council's meeting room to witness Sutiyoso read his oath of
office.
Sutiyoso, attired in an all-white governor's uniform, repeated
the oath word-for-word after the minister.
His predecessor, Surjadi Soedirdja, and the council's new
speaker, Edy Waluyo, witnessed the ceremony.
In his speech, Yogie said that Sutiyoso's appointment as
Jakarta governor demonstrated the people and government's trust
of him.
"This trust is a mighty challenge and I believe the new
governor will not consider it a burden but a real challenge to
measure his ability, devotion and dedication to the country, the
city and all Jakartans," he said.
"The trust is based on his previous accomplishments,
especially while serving as Jakarta military commander."
Yogie also thanked Surjadi for his commitment to the city's
advancement despite its complicated problems.
"There were many achievements during Surjadi's term in office,
both operationally and strategically, and his policies can offer
guidance to the new governor," he said.
Among the guests were Minister of Health Sujudi; Rotterdam
Mayor Abraham Peper of the Netherlands; West Java Governor
Nuriana; President Soeharto's sons Bambang Trihatmodjo and Hutomo
Mandala Putra, better known as Tommy Soeharto; four former
Jakarta governors -- Ali Sadikin, Tjokropranolo, Soeprapto and
Wiyogo Atmodarminto; and former council speaker M.H. Ritonga.
Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and
the commander of the Army's special force (Kopassus), Maj. Gen.
Prabowo Subianto, were also in attendance.
Yogie urged Sutiyoso, as Jakarta's new governor, to discipline
his own officials before trying to discipline the public.
"It's no use disciplining citizens if officials, who are
trusted to make guidelines for the people, are not disciplined
themselves."
Officials should be disciplined in upholding regulations and
existing procedures and they need to understand the purpose of
discipline, he said.
Yogie said that another of the city's challenges was to ensure
the security and success of the People's Consultative Assembly
general session in March.
He urged the municipality to cooperate with security officers
in safeguarding the meeting, which would elect the country's
president.
After yesterday's ceremony, which was marred by a dispute
between security guards and photographers due to a
misunderstanding, Yogie congratulated Sutiyoso and bid farewell
to Surjadi.
Comment
When asked to comment, Ali Sadikin, who served as Jakarta
governor from 1966 to 1977, said that he hoped Sutiyoso would
succeed in developing the city.
"His success will be for the benefit of all Jakartans," Ali,
who is known as a stern critic of the government, said.
He praised Sutiyoso's first step toward internal consolidation
and welcomed the new governor's pledge not to involve his
children or relatives in any city projects.
Tjokropranolo, who was Jakarta's governor from 1977 to 1982,
also greeted Sutiyoso's plan.
"As a young man, I believe he will be able to develop the city
better than his predecessors," he said.
Former governor Wiyogo Atmodarminto hoped Sutiyoso would
consistently implement the city's regulations and solve some of
the city's chronic problems.
After the ceremony, both Surjadi and Sutiyoso went to City
Hall where thousands of officials had gathered to bid farewell to
Surjadi and welcome the new governor. (ste)
Wiyogo -- Page 3