Sutiyoso meets his constituents

Sutiyoso meets his constituents

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso started his first day on the
job yesterday, arriving at City Hall at 7:15 a.m. and walking
around his new office before inspecting the deputy governors'
offices.

"Have you had breakfast this morning, Sir?" asked the City
Hall reporters who greeted him at the front door. "Yes, I ate two
boiled eggs but no milk," Sutiyoso said. "I'm afraid of getting
fat."

The 52-year-old governor then held a briefing with his new
officials before accompanying the Vice President and his wife,
Mrs. Tuty Try Sutrisno, on a visit to the city's welfare program
in Rawaterate, Cakung, East Jakarta.

Rawaterate, home for 431 families, has been chosen as a model
for cooperatives shops and other economic activities that allow
women to supplement their family's earnings.

After walking around in the blazing heat looking at displays
in some kiosks, the Vice President began to feel thirsty.

He approached one of the kiosks and opened a cooler, looking
for a Popsicle.

"I'm really thirsty," he said. "I want something to drink."

Sutiyoso tried to find a Popsicle for the Vice President,
rummaging through several coolers, but the sellers were all out
of stock.

Try finally found a Popsicle at one kiosk after opening
several coolers but his quick-acting staff had bought him a glass
of mineral water.

The Vice President drank the mineral water, offering the
Popsicle to Sutiyoso and other high-ranking officials, including
Minister of Tourism, Post and Telecommunication Joop Ave,
Minister of Cooperatives and Small Enterprises Subijakto
Tjakrawerdaya and Minister of Social Services Inten Soeweno.

"But I still want this," he joked.

"As you have a higher rank, you'd better enjoy it ...,"
Sutiyoso replied, with the crowd laughing in appreciation.

The visit to densely populated Rawaterate lasted until about
11 a.m. But before the closing ceremony, Mrs. Tuty Try Sutrisno
bought mangoes from one of the kiosks and told her assistant to
put them in the car.

"I want to serve mangoes at home," she said. (07)