Sutiyoso should apologize for his poor performance, say factions

Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

All 11 factions on the City Council criticized Governor Sutiyoso's accountability speech on Wednesday, faulting the governor for failing to deal with the many pressing problems in the capital.

The United Development Party (PPP), the third largest faction on the council with 12 seats, said Sutiyoso was ungentlemanly for failing to apologize for his failure to deal with the recent flooding in the city.

"By not apologizing to the public for his administration's failure to prevent the floods, Sutiyoso failed to act like a gentleman," the faction's spokesman, M. Yusuf A.R., said during the council's plenary session.

Yusuf said his faction was also disappointed with the administration's distribution of Rp 250 billion in flood-relief funds, most of which he said was ultimately misused.

He said his faction also had questions about Rp 4.2 billion that was raised during a charity event for flood victims. The money was later handed over by the administration to a non- governmental organization, ICE on Indonesia.

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), the largest faction on the council with 30 seats, also questioned why this Rp 4.2 billion was not mentioned in Sutiyoso's accountability speech.

"What is going on with ICE on Indonesia, headed by Irma Hutabarat? How much is really in that fund?" PDI Perjuangan faction spokesman Jannes Pardosi said.

The Government Watch (Gowa) said earlier that flood victims who were meant to receive the money, particularly students, had yet to see a rupiah even though the Rp 4.2 billion was handed over to ICE on Indonesia six months ago.

Gowa accused the NGO of using Rp 600 million of the money to cover its operational costs.

Jannes said his faction viewed the mishandling of the floods and the flood-relief funds as proof of Sutiyoso's failure over his five-year term.

"It seems that the governor tried to shun his responsibilities," he said.

The second largest faction on the council with 13 seats, the National Mandate Party (PAN), said the governor should have taken preventive measures before the floods struck in February.

"And during the flooding, many water pumps were damaged and only a few rubber boats and shelters were provided. Many people had to sleep along roads and under toll roads," the spokesman of the PAN faction, Soleh Rahman, said.

Besides floods, the factions also questioned the administration's handling of the city's transportation system, its garbage woes, security and public order.

Despite the criticism, however, previous experience has shown that this does not necessarily mean Sutiyoso's accountability speech will not be accepted.

These criticisms may just be for the benefit of grabbing the governor's attention, with an eye toward future considerations.

Sutiyoso will respond to the faction's questions and criticisms next week.

The council will then hold a plenary session on Aug. 12 to decide whether to accept or reject Sutiyoso's accountability speech. If any faction rejects the speech, the council will then vote whether to accept the speech.

If Sutiyoso's accountability speech is rejected, he would be ineligible to contest the gubernatorial election scheduled for Sept. 17.