Hasim, a taxi driver who lives of Ciganjur, South Jakarta, said he hoped the city administration would prioritize tackling the flood problem and severe traffic congestion.

“On a clear day, I can bring home at least Rp 100,000 [US$10.6] from driving my taxi,” Hasim, who has been a taxi driver for 19 years, told The Jakarta Post recently.

“However, when heavy rains came, collecting Rp 20,000 is the best I can expect because it takes a long time to navigate the inundated streets looking for fares,” he said.

The father of three, who voted for current Governor Fauzi Bowo in the 2007 gubernatorial elections, urged the governor to take immediate and concrete actions to overcome these problems.

“My first son will graduate from high school next year,” he said. “I really want to send him to the university if I can collect a steady daily salary.”

Ratna Furi Handayani, an employee in a private oil and gas company, shares similar concerns.

Driving week days from Cijantung, East Jakarta, to her office in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, the 25-year-old said she wished traffic in the city was more “civilized”.

“It might be reasonable for the government to say building new roads or turnpikes is not easy due to a limited budget,” she said.  

“But why do they let old, dilapidated buses continue polluting the city everyday?”

Last year, the Jakarta branch of the Land Transportation Owners Organization (Organda) estimated there were 60,000 public transportation vehicles in Jakarta. Of that number, there were 4,200 large buses, 4,800 minibuses, 13,000 minivans, 23,300 taxis and 15,000 bajaj (three-wheeled taxis).

All public vehicles must undergo emissions tests every six months, but thousands of public vehicles, which are not roadworthy, are still operational.

Ratna also criticized the lack of effort on the police’s part in educating the public on the new street regulations, which prohibit motorists from directly turning left at a red light.

This year, the Jakarta Police announced they would enforce the regulation listed in the newly passed traffic law. Traffic violators could face a maximum sentence of one month in prison and a fine of Rp 250,000.

Despite the  announcement, however, there have been no new road signs installed to facilitate law enforcement.

“I guess there are many motorists in Jakarta who still don’t know about the new regulation,” Ratna said.

“When I stop my car at a red light, I find one or two motorcyclists scold me for blocking their way to turn left.”

Meanwhile, Mega Noer, a student at Jakarta State University in Rawamangun, East Jakarta, voiced her optimism for next year.

She said she believed all the city residents should contribute in managing their waste to prevent floods from occurring.

“I hope more city residents finally realize floods are not only the local administration’s problem but also the people’s problem,” she added.

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