Sutiyoso to replace transportation boss

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A rumor circulating among city councillors on Friday has it that City Governor Sutiyoso is planning to replace the head of the Jakarta Transportation Agency Rustam Effendy for diverting a Rp 54 billion fund for a Busway project to other projects.

Rustam will reportedly be replaced by Jakarta Public Order Office head Firman Hutajulu, but councillors say they will reject his appointment because he has no experience in transportation.

"Yes, I've heard rumors. But we object to Hutajulu replacing Rustam," councillor Syamsidar Siregar of the National Mandate Party told reporters.

Syamsidar, who is a member of City Council Commission C for financial and budgetary affairs, said that Firman had no expertise in handling transportation problems.

Councillor Toto Ismunandar of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) supported Syamsidar's view, and suggested that Sutiyoso find candidates from the agency who have experience in handling transportation in the city.

"We support the planned replacement but the new chief should be competent," Toto said.

He said that the planned installment of Firman would cause a conflict of interest since the latter reportedly owned several fleets of Angkot (public minivans).

Separately, Firman refused to comment on the rumor that he would be installed as head of the transportation agency.

"The governor knows which official would be appropriate for the position," he said without giving further details.

Sutiyoso was reportedly angry with the diversion of the Rp 54 busway fund to several other projects, including the purchase of digital traffic lights, tow trucks and computers.

The reallocation of the fund was reportedly orchestrated by Rustam and certain councillors in Commission D for development affairs.

The administration earlier agreed to postpone the busway project citing the need for more preparation.

Afraid of "losing" the fund, Rustam with the support of the councillors, reallocated the fund without informing the governor or his superiors, such as the Jakarta Planning Agency head Ritola Tasmaya and financial assistant to the city secretary Makmun Amin.

Two factions, PAN and the Justice Party refused to approve the reallocation of the fund but they were outvoted as the majority of the council's 11 factions approved it in a plenary session two weeks ago.