Sutiyoso's one achievement

Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso again made a controversial move when he ordered the area under the Pasar Pagi flyover in West Jakarta to be developed into a shopping complex.

The construction of 88 semi-permanent kiosks under the flyover linking Jl. Perniagaan and Jl. Asemka Jembatan Batu has drawn criticism. As part of the administration's efforts to clear out roadside vendors, who have contributed to traffic congestion in the capital, this decision only reflects the administration's lack of seriousness in, and commitment to, managing traffic in the teeming city.

The city officials might have forgotten that the Pasar Pagi flyover was constructed in order to ease traffic, and once the kiosks are operational, traffic around the area will become worse than it was before. Thus, while existing traffic problems are neglected, a decision is made to compound the traffic even further.

An integrated plan on traffic and ground transportation has never been drawn up to smooth out the flow of traffic, as this year's developments have shown. Delivering promises and rhetoric to remedy the traffic have apparently become the best actions Sutiyoso's administration can take, and clearing the city's roads of illegally parked cars and roadside vendors has become the main operation for authorities.

From his first term in office in 1997 until he was reelected governor this year, Sutiyoso has never managed to get the job done, and the Pasar Pagi flyover saga is just one of the many controversial maneuvers made by Sutiyoso and his administration in 2002.

The most recent contentious policy was the National Monument (Monas) park beautification project, which includes a plan to release deer in the area. The Rp 80 billion Monas project looks silly to many who believe that flood control projects must be given top priority, as does another prodigal project, the Rp 14 billion renovation of the Hotel Indonesia roundabout and fountain.

Sutiyoso and the administration have been too stubborn to learn their lessons from the severe flooding which claimed several lives and crippled the city economy early this year.

The city did nothing significant when the citizens were struggling to survive the consequences of the flood. After the flood came only rhetoric, while proper anticipation of fresh floods, which may occur early next year, has yet to be made.

So what has the Jakarta administration achieved in 2002?

It is not easy to give a big up thumbs-up to Sutiyoso and his team. Problems which have lingered for years, such as the disappearance of green areas, have yet to be dealt with properly. The city administration have proven themselves incapable of returning areas supposed to be used as open spaces to their original function.

The luxurious Plaza Senayan and the controversial Hotel Mulia, also in the Senayan area, are just two examples of the spatial or zoning plan violation.

Sutiyoso has obviously also failed to uphold his anticorruption jargon. According to the latest records, there are currently 209 cases of alleged malfeasance involving institutions and offices under the auspices of City Hall.

Another common mistake may be Sutiyoso's adamant exclusion of the public in the decision-making process. The people have never been consulted in a project planned for their district, despite the fact that the project may disturb and interrupt the people's lives.

Unfortunately, Sutiyoso has also turned a blind eye towards his subordinates, allowing them to violate the capital's zoning plan, which recommends the development of railway track as part of ground transportation system, instead of the current 12.9- kilometer busway project.

Judging from the fact that none of the city's crucial problems and issues have been properly and correctly handled and resolved, we may say that the only achievement Sutiyoso has made has been in winning the gubernatorial seat for a second term.

Jakartans can only hope that Sutiyoso's term of office will pass soon enough, and that a new governor with a noble vision and mission will be elected by the people.

We need a governor who can manage the metropolis of Jakarta in the right way and direction to meet the modern demands of development.