TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Bukit Duri figure denies Ahok’s claim about kampung susun
Change Size
A poster displayed near the debris of demolished houses reminds people of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s promise to develop a Kampung Deret (elevated village) in Bukit Duri and other places when he was Jakarta governor with Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama as his deputy governor. (JP/Callistasia Anggun Wijaya)
S
andyawan Sumardi, a noted figure of the Bukit Duri area in South Jakarta, denied on Thursday that Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama had opened a discussion with residents about a plan to construct a Kampung Susun (elevated village) in the area, where a contested eviction was carried out on Wednesday.
"His [Ahok’s] claim is false. We've gathered hundreds of residents' signatures to make Kampung Susun in Bukit Duri. However, Ahok never responded to our proposal and opened up discussion with us," said Sandyawan in Jakarta on Thursday.
On Wednesday, Ahok claimed that Bukit Duri residents had failed to obtain power of attorney (POA) from all residents who lived on the banks of the Ciliwung River to develop Kampung Susun, a modified version of the Kampung Deret concept introduced by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo when he was still Jakarta governor.
Sandyawan said that it was true that in September 2015 Ahok had agreed to develop Kampung Susun in Kampung Pulo but added that he never responded to a proposal to develop Kampung Susun in Bukit Duri.
Sandyawan also regretted that Ahok had very little direct communication with residents.
The administration's structures, including neighborhood units (RT) and community units (RW), district heads and sub-district heads, did not effectively channel public's aspirations, he said, adding that “all communication was centered at City Hall”.
The idea of building Kampung Susun and Kampung Deret, community-based vertical villages for Kampung Pulo residents, was welcomed by Jokowi in 2012 before he moved to the Presidential Palace. But the idea was set aside after he was replaced by Ahok. (bbn)
