Sutiyoso told to settle PDAM rift
Sutiyoso told to settle PDAM rift
JAKARTA (JP): An observer has warned Governor Sutiyoso to put
back on track the derailed water management deal between city
water company PDAM Jaya and its two foreign partners.
Muchamad Taufik, chairman of the Jakarta Study Center, told a
seminar on water management cooperation at the PDAM office in
Central Jakarta on Monday that Sutiyoso might lose his
governorship if he did not resolve the situation quickly.
"There is a perception that Sutiyoso belittles the PDAM
workers union's continuing protests. He should be careful because
people can use the issue to show that the governor is unable to
handle the case," said Taufik, also deputy chairman of the
Justice and Unity Party (PKP) Jakarta chapter.
He said politicization of the case was indicated by the
nomination of Betawi (native Jakartans) public figure HM Sanif to
challenge Sutiyoso as the next city governor. He said the workers
union had clearly declared their support for Sanif.
Taufik said Sutiyoso only needed to review the water
management deal.
"Governor Sutiyoso only needs to decide whether to continue or
terminate the deal," he said.
The water management deal signed in February last year with PT
Thames Pam Jaya (TPJ) and PT Pam Lyonnaise Jaya (Palyja) has
repeatedly been protested by scores of PDAM employees grouped in
the Pam Jaya worker's union (SP Pam Jaya).
Some officials, including Sutiyoso, have said the union
protests were driven by the fact that they could no longer
practice "dirty" business, such as corruption and collusion. The
officials also claim that the workers would be unable to maintain
their poor performance levels after the company was managed
professionally by foreign companies.
The governor previously said he would not cancel the agreement
in a bid to avoid a lawsuit from the two foreign firms.
Secretary of the Association of Indonesian Water Contractors
Poltak Situmorang, who was also present at the discussion, said
the city administration would not be burdened with any
liabilities if it canceled the agreement.
"If we carefully read the agreement, there is no statement in
it saying that the administration is subjected to a penalty if
the deal is canceled," he said.
Other scheduled speakers, including Zoemrotin K. Soesilo from
the Indonesian Consumers Foundation and Teten Masduki from the
Indonesian Corruption Watch failed to attend the discussion.
(ind)