Sutiyoso should apologize for his poor performance, say factions
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.