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Enter Mr Moustache
The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Mon, 08/13/2007 1:08 PM | Opinion
Fauzi Bowo now wakes up to the man in the mirror, the governor himself.
Those who pierced his moustache on the ballot paper and those who did not now share a fervent hope for a more livable metropolis -- one where yesterday's flood victims will no longer face the terror of repeating the annual ordeal when the skies open; where four- to five-hour commutes might be cut in half; and where the poor who use limited resources for their livelihood become recognized instead of constantly harassed.
Governor Fauzi may not enjoy the grace period we might have given Adang Daradjatun, as newcomer, had he won the race -- given the victor's own campaign claim that he would be able to set to work on his very first day in office.
And so with over 50 percent of last week's vote we entrust him to lead Jakarta his way, hopefully with an open mind and ears. Psychologists have said that listening to and respecting others' opinions is not quite Fauzi's strength, but he would do well to remember that it was the people who put him in his current seat.
On the other hand, our new leader has signaled a promise of good communication -- this was mentioned in the context of the relation of Jakarta and its neighboring cities.
Flooding, garbage, congestion and clean water are a few issues where better cooperation between regional authorities is desperately needed, both for the sake of Jakartans and their neighbors who work here.
Perhaps the chronic illness of our capital was one reason voters opted for a familiar face, not because they all trusted an engineer with a doctorate from Germany. This despite the fact that in his 30 years in the city's bureaucracy, Fauzi has shared responsibility for the failures and the success of the past administration.
Voters learnt little from his campaign on what he would do better. One was a review of the city budget to use it more efficiently, apart from curbing the floods. A better use of the budget would have to mean improved public services for most of the 12 million people that make up Jakarta's population, never mind that he has not gone as far as to pledge free education up to high school like his rival.
Though surveyors had predicted a 65 percent turnout for the first election of Jakarta's governor, the estimated 70 percent of the 5.7 million registered voters who showed up last Wednesday was even more encouraging.
Observers at polling stations witnessed how voters trickled in, and feared a low turnout overall as many polling stations only saw half of their registered voters show up.
While Governor Fauzi and his team are of course elated by the resulting support, the demands of the voting public serve only to voice the exasperation of a much larger number of Jakarta's residents and commuters. Smiles and handshakes will quickly turn to bitterness when impatience settles in again.
It will be lonely at the top when the new governor finds himself blamed for everything gone wrong, including by ignorant citizens who continue to drive recklessly, litter at will, skip their taxes and try to bribe their way everywhere.
For daily complaints will soon unite Jakartans again after the election campaign that at one point threatened to divide the city between ""us"" and ""them"", the alleged division being the ""hardliners"" of Adang's supporters versus the rest of the public.
This will soon fade into irrelevance as Jakartans go on with their lives; Fauzi's campaign yell of ""Jakarta for all"" will be also be measured by whether both the rich and poor can live in dignity in the capital.
For now, Fauzi Bowo has the assured support of his rival, who congratulated him while conceding his loss with over 42 percent of the vote, far from a small feat for a first-timer.
Theoretically Fauzi thus has a solid base in the city's legislative council, ruled by the Prosperous Justice Party which supported his rival, and led by the Golkar Party, Fauzi's party base.
Top of the list in his first 100 days in office, he said during the candidates' debate, was to win over the legislative council to his proposals.
But first things first from us. Congratulations, Governor Fauzi: We hope you can eventually win us all over.
