World Bank honors former governor

JAKARTA: Former Jakarta governor Lt. Gen. (ret) Ali Sadikin received an international award from the World Bank on Tuesday for his Muhammad Husni Thamrin program for village improvement.

The award was presented by the bank's representative Andrew Steer in a ceremony -- A tribute to Bang Ali: The Kampong Improvement Program and Ali Sadikin's Vision for The Urban Poor.

Ali, who was Jakarta governor from 1966 to 1977, launched the program in 1969 when 60 percent of Jakartans lived in slum areas. Through the program, his administration helped improve the environment and quality of life in more than 18,000-hectares of housing areas in the city. To date, more than 400 cities and towns countrywide have adopted similar programs.

In 1980, Ali received an award from the Aga Khan Foundation for the program.

Ali was a controversial governor during his tenure. He funded much of the public development in the city by legalizing and taxing gambling operations in the capital.-- JP