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Editorial: Moving too slow, Governor
Sat, 10/11/2008 11:29 AM | Opinion
When we review the promises that Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo made after he was sworn in as Jakarta's first directly elected governor, along with his deputy Maj. Gen. (ret) Priyanto on Oct. 7 of last year, we hope he will not be upset when many of us Jakartans ask a harsh question: What have been his actual accomplishments this past year?
Knowing his strong commitment to democracy, but also knowing that he is a career city official, we know he will respond to the criticism. We also know it is difficult for him to clean up the corrupt city bureaucracy in one year.
Several days after his induction, Fauzi Bowo promised that he would resolve 19 of Jakarta's most serious problems in his first 100 days of governance, including reducing widespread traffic jams by accelerating the construction of the busway lanes. Other programs included finalizing land acquisition for the East Flood Canal (BKT) project and beginning construction of the mass rapid transportation.
"I guarantee you that we'll finalize these 19 programs within 100 days. These programs have also been included in the revised 2007 city budget," Fauzi said.
To be honest even the governor may find it difficult to believe he has fulfilled his promises.
But who doubts Fauzi's expertise of Jakarta? As a civil servant who has spent more than 30 years of his career in the city bureaucracy, he is a knowledgeable person when it comes to the capital and its problems.
Therefore, when Foke, Fauzi's nickname, said in his election campaign last year: "Trust it to me, the expert", Jakartans were easily convinced.
Now we're very sorry to say that the governor has not been able to show his expertise in addressing various problems faced by many Jakartans such as traffic congestion, floods and the low quality of public transportation services.
Of course, Jakartans did not expect that Fauzi would be able to solve all the capital's complicated problems within one year. But they hoped that at least the governor could show that his administration was heading in the right direction in solving these issues.
Just look at the traffic situation, as it has worsened and public transportation has not improved. In addition, no better flood mitigation has been introduced.
The governor failed to speed up land acquisition for the BKT project, he has not eased traffic congestion along busway construction projects, Jakartans have not seen any breakthroughs in his bureaucratic reform and we have not seen any sign that a subway will be operating in 2014 as he promised.
And why did the city administration fail to deploy buses along the three newest busway corridors after the construction of the infrastructure was finished? These are only a few examples of the many complicated problems that Fauzi needs to address immediately.
Fauzi knows well that a bus shortage is the main problem in dealing with the busway issue. Because of the this shortage, the 14 busway corridors have not been optimally used to improve public transportation.
Fauzi also needs to be more serious in acquiring land for the BKT, a flood mitigation project whose development has been delayed for nearly four decades. If the joint project between the city administration and the central government could be completed, it would significantly ease flooding in east Jakarta, as well as facilitate water transportation.
Fauzi is still facing huge problems that, as anyone knows, he would not be able to solve within one year. Therefore, we hope the governor will set priorities in solving certain problems which affect a large number of Jakartans.
We think he has moved too slow in his first year. Therefore, he needs to quicken his pace in the following years or people will lose their trust in his expertise.
