The de facto governor

Given the poor record of the Jakarta administration over the last five years, we can almost certainly expect more of the same now that the incumbent, Sutiyoso, has been reelected by the city's legislative council as governor for the next five years.

That is hardly good news, considering the problems and discomfort that we have all had to endure, thanks largely to the inept, if not incompetent, administration. The impossible traffic congestion, recurring and worsening floods, deterioration in most public services and public facilities and a breakdown in law and order are just some of the problems that those who of us live in this city are having to put up with.

The Council, ignoring massive public protest opposing Sutiyoso's reelection, has made sure that Jakarta has a governor who may be constitutionally legitimate, but who has neither popular support nor the moral legitimacy to lead. The violent protests outside the Council building, while the Council members elected Sutiyoso, are bound to leave a sour aftertaste.

It's not that we have not been down this road before. At the national level, we endured more than three decades of Soeharto's tyranny until 1998. He too ruled with constitutional legitimacy but without popular support. Our lives went on then, and there is no reason to think that they would not go on now with five more years of Sutiyoso. Like the 30 years of Soeharto that most of us in this country endured, many of us in Jakarta can look forward to five more miserable years under Sutiyoso.

His reelection, in spite of his unpopularity, is another glaring example that collusion between members of our political elite is still widespread. And this is collusion at the highest level, involving President Megawati Soekarnoputri and her Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan).

By defying public opinion, including that of their own rank- and-file who opposed Sutiyoso's reelection, Megawati and her party have made a complete mockery of her own government's stated campaign to eradicate KKN, the Indonesian acronym for corruption, collusion and nepotism. At least, next time they talk about fighting KKN, we will know that it is simply empty rhetoric.

There can be no explanation for Megawati's insistence on retaining Sutiyoso as governor other than the concurrence of their political interests. That, and the likelihood of money politics, alleged, but harder to prove. Whatever the reasons behind this collusion, the Jakarta governorship election has confirmed public doubt over Megawati's commitment to ending KKN, which she promised to do upon her election last year.

From the very beginning to its conclusion, the Jakarta governorship election process was designed in such a way as to preclude public participation. While we condemn the ugly violence that erupted on Wednesday outside the Council building, the Council has a lot to answer for over that incident.

For better or worse, we are now stuck with Sutiyoso. Once he is formally installed by President Megawati, he will be, both de facto and de jure, the governor of Jakarta until 2007.

But his lack of popularity, and the way he bulldozed his way past public protest to get himself reelected, has estranged himself from the people he is supposed to serve. One of the first things he must do now, if his leadership is to have any chance of becoming effective at all, is to win public confidence.

It is simply inconceivable that any of his policies can be effective or even implemented at all unless he has the support of the people. The last thing we need now is a dysfunctional administration and a dysfunctional leadership, as inept and incompetent as they may be.

His critics too must accept that Sutiyoso will be governor for the next five years and give him a fair chance to lead the administration effectively. Critics, including the media, however, should remain critical and prod the governor to do what is required to make Jakarta a better place in which to live.

Now that he has secured his post for the next five years, Sutiyoso should end all politicking, which has consumed so much of his time and energy for most of the past year, and for once, focus on addressing the multiple and complex problems that have made Jakarta an almost unbearable place to live for many of us.

A glimmer of hope is provided by the Council's simultaneous election of Fauzi Bowo as Sutiyoso's deputy. Fauzi's record is not exactly spotless, but having served as the Jakarta administration secretary, he brings administrative skills and technical expertise into the new leadership, which, we hope, might just make up for some of Sutiyoso's shortcomings.

On that note, we wish both Sutiyoso and Fauzi the best of luck in leading the administration.