Work plan mooted to improve performance
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta
The fact that some regional councillors have been investigated by the police for their alleged involvement in graft cases is a good reason for Jakarta councillors to prepare an annual work plan, which would enable the public to monitor their performance.
Councillor Ahmad Heryawan of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), the strongest candidate for council chairman for the 2004- 2009 tenure, said on Tuesday that he would also try to boost the council's productivity.
"It is most important that the council has an annual work plan as it has never been done explicitly before," he said on the sidelines of a public discussion on the election of the council's chairman at the Jakarta Media Center in Central Jakarta.
The work plan would contain details of the council's targets throughout the year, including the number of bylaws that needed revision, the amount of money that should be allocated for public interests and so forth.
"It would be better if we made a plan that covered the next five years," he said.
Observers have criticized the councillors for their performance, particularly in their efforts to address the needs of the public.
Non-governmental organizations have also slammed the councillors for "disappointing their constituents" as they failed to take a firm stance against the administration's policies, particularly eviction, which adversely affect poor families.
Even Governor Sutiyoso has complained about the council's low rate of productivity.
"They would not have had to rush to deliberate proposed bylaws at the end of their tenure if they had better arranged their schedule," he said earlier.
In the chairmanship race, Heryawan will likely lead with at least 38 of 71 votes. The election itself will take place on Sept. 17. He receives support from the PKS, the Democratic Party and the National Mandate Party (PAN) factions.
Heryawan will face Ade Surapriatna of the Golkar Party faction as his strongest rival. Ade receives at least 33 votes from the nationhood coalition comprising Golkar, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the Prosperous Peace Party (PDS), the Reform Star Party (PBR) and the National Awakening Party (PKB) factions.
Ade promised he would "bring back the council's dignity" if he was elected as the council's chairman. "Of course, we need certain facilities to support our activities."
"The current salary (for each councillor) of Rp 5 million (US$538.79) is not enough. The most reasonable figure would be around Rp 15 million."
Ade also said that councillors must be provided with residences located near the council building and their constituents instead of on the outskirts of the city. "Perhaps, it would be good if we lived in apartments."
He also proposed that each councillor get a car "to support their mobility".