The future of our city

The future of our city

What future does Jakarta hold for its inhabitants, say 10, 15
or 25 years from now? That is difficult to envisage. But we know
that its population will swell, and this means its problems will
grow and become more complex. By the city administration's own
estimates, Jakarta's population will grow from its present level
of 9.2 million to 10.1 million by 2000, and to 10.9 million by
2005.

The population of the Jakarta metropolitan area -- a more
realistic measure, since it includes the adjacent towns of Bogor,
Tangerang and Bekasi -- will swell to 23.7 million by 2000, and
28 million by 2005. Presently ranked the world's 11th largest
city, Jakarta will be in the top 10 by the year 2000, given its
rapid growth rate.

Jakarta is becoming one of the world's so-called "megacities",
the subject of an international conference here this week. The
conference, organized jointly by the New York-based Asia Society
and the Jakarta-based Center for Information and Development
Studies, brought together urban experts and government officials
to discuss strategies in managing urban issues in Asian
megacities.

Jakarta, with its current population, is already facing
immense problems that bring into question the sustainability of
the city. It is already showing symptoms of urban illness. The
flooding and water shortages, along with air and river pollution,
are serious indications of environmental degradation which
undermine the quality of life of Jakartans. Then there are the
endless traffic jams, the spate of fires and the land conflicts,
not to mention the psychological stress associated with urban
living.

So far, Jakarta has managed to survive and grow, and the
problems have either worked themselves out or became incorporated
into the lives of its citizens. Like the popular sim city 2000
computer game, Jakarta seems to have a life of its own, with its
own dynamism. Life goes on, and the city keeps growing, with all
its shortcomings. There are no signs of its breaking down.

But who can tell what will happen some 10, 15 or 25 years down
the road? Running a megacity is a completely different ball game,
requiring different attitudes and a new set of cultures. While we
have no reason to be pessimistic about the future, we should make
some preparations today. We may not be able to predict the
future, but we can influence its course.

The Asia Society conference pointed to the need for
partnership between the public and private sectors in managing
cities. Greater participation by the people -- residents and
businesses alike -- is crucial in managing megacities, much more
so than in running small cities.

In the case of the Jakarta metropolitan area, before forging
such partnerships, it needs a strong and effective leadership. In
this context, the recent suggestion by former environmental
minister Emil Salim that Greater Jakarta should be managed by a
governor of ministerial rank deserves another thorough look.
Presently, Jakarta's governor appears to have too many bosses
with interests which do not always tally with those of his
residents. Much more than the capital of this republic, Jakarta
is a city where over 10 million people live. The governor must
have strong power and independence to run the city effectively.

The governor and his administration cannot manage the city
effectively without the support of its residents. This calls for
democratization in the way decisions affecting the city and the
lives of its residents are made. It is the task of the City
Council to represent the people, but there are still nagging
questions about the way members are elected and about the
effectiveness of the council.

The challenges facing Jakarta are immense and they will not
likely become any easier with the population growing. A review of
the way the city is being managed, including the various
institutions involved, would be a good start to prepare Jakarta
as it becomes a megacity.