Jakarta, Never Ending Story

18 October 2013 14:04 Razki Raditya Mashan No Comments!

It's been a year since Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) were officially appointed as Jakarta leaders. Since 15 October last year, both leaders have done full-speed acceleration in improving the capital. Start from reforming city bureaucrats, improving both public facilities and services, until holding public events.

One phenomenal step undertaken by the Jokowi-Ahok administration was by opening tender to recruit sub-district and district heads as both gentlemen assessed that most of the officials were incompetent. However, as the regulation rolled out, pros and cons were tailing behind. Some regional heads refused to join the program as they considered the decision to have violated the previous Decision Letter on sub-district and district head appointment. However, most of them agreed to follow the process.

In terms of public services, Jokowi-Ahok published Jakarta Health Card (KJS) and Jakarta Smart Card (KJP) programs by the end of last year. KJS program allows underprivileged people to get free health services at all community health centers (Puskesmas) and several partnering hospitals across the capital. Meanwhile, KJP program offers donation of Rp240,000 each month for underprivileged students in order to ease them to get access for better education. Beside health and education programs, the current Jakarta administration also establishes affordable flats to allow Jakarta people, especially the poors, to live in proper housings. Moreover, the city administration also revitalizes street vendors in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta and moves them to a more proper place at Blok G in Tanah Abang market area.

On the other hand, improvement on public facilities in the city also becomes another priority to create a better Jakarta. Jokowi-Ahok administration has recently revitalized several green spaces around the capital to become watersheds, a strategy which is expected to solve flood problem that annually strikes Jakarta. The administration has also made improvements at several city parks and museums, equipping them with free WiFi connection. The step is hoped to facilitate residents with free yet comfortable public spaces.

Furthermore, sidewalks at several main roads in Jakarta also seem to become another upgrading project. Street vendors who usually sell their goods on sidewalks are now relocated to other appropriate spaces which are accessible by their customers without disturbing other street users. Some benches are also placed along the sidewalks to facilitate side-walkers who need to take a break and sit down.

In order to solve traffic issue, the city administration also advances public transportation service. In 2014, the office targets to add 4,000 units of public buses in which 3,000 units will be allocated for mid-sized bus while the remaining 1,000 units will be used for TransJakarta fleet. In addition, the construction of mass rapid transit (MRT) and Jakarta Monorail projects have been kicked off which are hoped to soon start serving Jakarta residents, giving them more options of public transportation. It is hoped that Jakarta people will prefer to use public transportation than private vehicles, thus traffic congestion will at least be minimized. Despite central government's policy on low-cost green car (LCGC) program which will add more and more private vehicles in Jakarta, Jokowi and Ahok are still keeping their stance in solving the traffic issue by imposing Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) to control private vehicles utilization.

Last but not least, Jakarta residents are now easy to find free entertainment across the city as the administration holds several public festivals. Earlier this month, Jokowi inaugurated Kaki Lima Night Market, a culinary festival held along Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan in Central Jakarta. The governor planned to hold the festival once a week on Saturday. Besides, to commemorate Eid Al Adha celebration, the city held Jakarta Night Religious Festival on Monday (14/10) from HI roundabout to the National Monument.

Well, both Jokowi and Ahok have shown good performance to improve the city and many will agree with my opinion. However, following the improvement, another problem will always be shadowing. The more comfortable Jakarta will be, the more people will flock the city. Thus, Jokowi-Ahok administration, possibly the next administration will have to find another strategy to cope with population issue.

Indeed, a never ending story.