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Jakarta Post

A more transparent Jakarta

Transparency is not new to the Indonesian public domain. The Freedom of Information Law was passed in 2008 and became effective in 2010.

Aichiro Suryo Prabowo (The Jakarta Post)
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Jakarta
Tue, May 23, 2017

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A more transparent Jakarta Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama talks to a civil servant of the integrated service center at Jakarta City Hall on Jan. 1, 2015. (kompas.com/Kurnia Sari Aziza)

I

n the Jakarta election campaign, the winner, governor-elect Anies Baswedan, exposed how the incumbent’s administration scored low on performance and accountability according to the Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Ministry, failed to earn a clean opinion from the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) for its financial report and missed the annual budget disbursement target.

Yet the massive rallies to display solidarity for the now jailed non-active governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, who lost his blasphemy case, in part shows great appreciation for his efforts toward good governance through a demonstration of transparency.

In Jakarta, public information can be retrieved easily. Take budgetary data or financial statements: Relevant documents are accessible through the Jakarta government website, as well as from the information management office (PPID).

Ahok had also disclosed what is usually done behind closed doors during his meetings. They are well documented and uploaded to YouTube, making it easier for the public to learn what is talked about in a meeting, who is present and what the results are. He has brought transparency to the next level and governor-elect Anies should continue the practice it or, better yet, improve it.

Transparency is not new to the Indonesian public domain. The Freedom of Information Law was passed in 2008 and became effective in 2010.

The law guarantees the right of citizens to obtain any public information from public agencies unless it is specifically exempted. It also mandates public agencies to regularly disclose public information, such as financial statements, performance reports and government projects.

Transparency as such is expected to encourage an informed citizenship and increase public participation, but apparently that is not always the case. In several cases, the government has been transparent, yet public participation remains low, leading to an unchecked policy making process. What happened?

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