D

eputy Governor Basuki 'Ahok' Tjahaja Purnama is telling the city's obese or overweight Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) officers to exercise and drop those extra kilograms.

'I call on Satpol PP members to do exercise to have a better body shape. Otherwise, how can they chase the bad guys?' Ahok said during an event to mark the agency's 63rd anniversary at the National Monument (Monas) Park in Central Jakarta on Tuesday.

Ahok offered some diet tips to the chubby guardians of public order, suggesting that they jog and cut down on starchy carbohydrates. 'Consume less rice and run more often,' the deputy governor said.

Also at the event, Satpol PP chief Kukuh Hadi Santoso said that the agency has a routine exercise regime for its more than 6,000 officers.

'We conduct routine medical check-ups and hold regular aerobic exercise on Tuesdays and Thursdays in Monas compound. Please come check it out,' Kukuh told The Jakarta Post. 'I agree with the deputy governor and am ready to help overweight members lose weight.'

'We have physicians checking up on my officers and warning those who are overweight,' Kukuh said. 'We also call on members to eat healthy. We have done this long before the National Police launched a slimming program for fat cops.'

Kukuh was referring to a mandatory exercise and diet program for overweight police officers aimed at helping them drop up to 4 kilograms a month.

The program, launched in 2012 by National Police chief Gen. Timur Pradopo and Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Putu Eko Bayuseno to keep officers in shape to boost performance and the police's public image, started with the Tangerang Metro Police in November before expanding nationwide.

Ahok also called on Satpol PP officers, infamous for allegations of brutality or using excessive force in their daily work, to be firm but fair in enforcing the law.

The deputy governor also called on the agency to find win-win solutions when evicting residents and street vendors. 'We have to relocate illegal street vendors who tend to operate on busy corners and streets. But we also have to find another place for them so that they will want to relocate. Otherwise, Jakarta will look dirty.'

According to Ahok, the Home Ministry has allocated Rp 13.8 billion (US$1.42 million) to improve the quality of Satpol PP human resources across the country. 'The minister hopes that through the program, the government can improve its image and influence among citizens.'