Governor Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo on Wednesday inaugurated South Jakarta mayor Syamsudin Noor, who has been acting South Jakarta mayor since February, at the Setu Babakan Betawi Cultural Village in South Jakarta.

In his speech, Jokowi called on the South Jakarta mayor and officials to retain green spaces and water catchment areas in the municipality, as well as to monitor the administration's projects in the area.

'Don't let green spaces be turned into shopping malls or housing estates,' Jokowi said.

The governor also encouraged South Jakarta officials to approach residents who would be affected by the city administration's programs, such as the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) and dredging projects.

The first track of the MRT project, set to connect Lebak Bulus in South Jakarta with the Hotel Indonesia (HI) traffic circle in Central Jakarta, has been opposed by hundreds of residents of Fatmawati, South Jakarta.

They rejected the construction of an elevated MRT track above their properties under the impression that the construction might affect their property values and turn the area into a slum.

'Mr. Mayor should communicate with residents [affected by the project] so we can carry out the program smoothly,' Jokowi said, adding that the mayor should also regularly visit residents and places to get a thorough understanding of various issues.

Syamsudin said that he was all set to carry out his tasks.

'[The city administration] has big projects, I am ready to support them,' he said, adding that he would encourage residents to create percolation pits in their backyards.

The first track of the MRT project, which will have six underground stations, seven elevated stations and a capacity of 173,000 passengers per day, was officially launched on May 2 at the HI traffic circle.

Construction of the 15.7-kilometer track is expected to be completed in 2017.

Jakarta Deputy Governor Basuki 'Ahok' Tjahaja Purnama confirmed that Lebak Bulus stadium in South Jakarta would be demolished and turned into an MRT depot. The city administration will build new stadiums at BMW park in Pademangan, North Jakarta, and Ulujami, Pesanggrahan, in South Jakarta to replace Lebak Bulus stadium, the home base of Jakarta's Persija soccer club.

'We will complete the land acquisition in Pesanggrahan to build a new home base for Persija,' Ahok said at City Hall.

The city administration has also planned to start its massive dredging project over rivers and dams, Ciliwing and Pesanggrahan rivers, which pass South Jakarta, this year. As part of the program, the administration will relocate squatters living along the riverbanks.

The governor is scheduled to inaugurate the new West Jakarta mayor at the Angke low-cost apartments in Tambora, West Jakarta, on Thursday.

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