The de facto governor

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.