Sutiyoso renomination encounters some objections
Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
City Governor Sutiyoso might announce his intention to join the next gubernatorial election in October, in effect eating his own words that he would not seek reelection.
But his nomination for a second five-year term has already been opposed to by some Jakartans including those ignorant of the coming election.
Tongap Siahaan, a public minivan driver serving the Kampung Melayu-Senen route, said on Saturday that Sutiyoso must not be reelected due to his failure in handling the massive floods that hit the capital for around three weeks since Jan. 28.
"He should not run for governor. He should allow other people to lead the city," said Tongap, whose rented house in Cawang area, East Jakarta, was inundated by the floods.
Tongap also criticized Sutiyoso's administration that has failed to manage the city transportation system and only created more traffic jams.
Ali, a student at a private university, concurred, saying that the administration had not achieved anything during Sutiyoso's tenure.
"Traffic jams, crowds of street vendors and mass brawls among residents all indicate that the governor has no leadership skill," said Ali, a resident of Kemayoran area, Central Jakarta.
He hoped the city would be led by a younger governor with bold, brilliant and, possibly controversial ideas to face the city's problems, like former Governor Ali Sadikin.
He said only Ali Sadikin with all his controversial policies was still acknowledged as the "true" city governor until now.
Ali Sadikin, who served as governor in the 1970s, was known for permitting gambling dens to operate as they were big taxpayers for the city. Ignoring critics, he said the taxes could finance the development of public facilities.
Today, gambling is illegal but many gambling dens still operate with the backing of certain military and police officers.
Ali also set up the Kramat Tunggak prostitute rehabilitation complex in Jakarta in the 1970s but it was closed by Sutiyoso in 1999 amid protests from neighboring communities.
Despite the opposition, not all people were aware of the October election. Some did not even care.
"I don't care if Sutiyoso is reelected. It's more important for people to do their jobs easily," said Yanto, an Ojek (motorcycle taxi) driver in Tanah Abang area, Central Jakarta.
He wished the next governor -- whether from a military or civilian background -- could bring peace and create more job opportunities, especially for the ordinary people.
Since Ali Sadikin, all Jakarta governors have had a military background including Sutiyoso who formerly was Jakarta Military Commander.
Several non-governmental organizations have proposed that the next city governor should not be from the military, fearing that otherwise he would betray the reform agenda and democratization process.
Four candidates -- Jakarta city secretary Fauzi Bowo, West Nusa Tenggara Governor Harun Alrasyid, State Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Lt. Gen. (ret) A.M. Hendropriyono and Udayana Military Commander Maj. Gen. Adam Damiri -- were named as strong contestants in the election.
Although the public and NGOs have rejected candidates with a military background, the election however, would be determined by the 85 members of the City Council.
The deciding vote in the election would mostly come from 30 councillors of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle and 13 councillors each from the United Development Party and the National Mandate Party.
With the current quality of the councillors, it would be unlikely that the voices of the public and NGOs would be heard.