Decentralization is stagnant, and Megapolitan Issue ?

After in office for 10 years, Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso will leave the city hall on Oct. 6, 2007. The outgoing governor outlined his legacy, including the flood and waste management and public transportation system, in an interview with The Jakarta Post's Wida Maulia, Evi Mariani and Dwi Atmanta last week.

Question: What are the most important issues Jakarta has to deal with until today?

Answer: During my first five-year term, I was dealing more with the aftermath of the financial and political crises. The budget plummeted; it was only enough to pay the staff salaries. The economic wheel stopped propelling and investors fled the country. During my second term from 2002, after things became more stable, I initiated what I call dedicated programs -- large-scale programs important to Jakartans.

First, the flood control. The Dutch had earlier designed a horse shoe-shaped canal through which 13 rivers flowing directly to the ocean. They built the western canal in 1933, but the eastern part was never finished, therefore five rivers still flowing to Jakarta.

I consider this concept still relevant, that's why I try to build the eastern canal. We have set a target of completing the land acquisition this year, and next year we'll start construction work.

What about transportation system?

That's the second priority agenda. I thought about Jakarta's traffic jams. Experts told me that by 2014, Jakarta traffic would be put to a complete standstill; cars would hardly be able to move far from the garage. I asked experts and they designed a macro transportation network, which should provide access to and from (neighboring towns of) Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi.

In addition, we have to change the culture of people. They like to drive private cars. Even the middle and lower class people are eager to buy old, second-hand cars only to show off.

The year 2014 is just seven years to come. If I wish play it safe, why should I bother thinking about how to prevent the disaster? So we chose four means of mass transportation: the subway, the monorail, the busway and the waterway. Fauzi Bowo (the elected governor) must continue this.

To set an example, is there any campaign for your staff to refrain from using private cars?

We can't do it now because the whole network has not been in place yet. The network must be established before we can enact such a policy. I envision it would be ready by 2012.

What else is the main agenda?

It's waste management. Garbage is a scare for big cities and we have to change the paradigm from cost-oriented approach in which garbage management means a waste of a lot of money to profit-oriented, in which garbage can generate income.

Had the incident in Bojong (dump site) not happened, I would have succeeded in making money out of the garbage. This 6,000 tons of garbage Jakarta produces every day should have been put into a machine and turned into electricity, fuel and fertilizer. Such a project is underway in Cilincing. We'll see how it progresses.

What has made the megalopolitan concept fail?

Each regional administration in the Greater Jakarta maintains its ego, which makes coordination difficult to work. I'm really disappointed with the fact that this concept was not adopted in the bill on Jakarta administration. Why didn't the home minister propose it? I have explained this concept to the lawmakers, but they, too, were reluctant to support me.

What have you done about good governance?

In the beginning of my tenure as a governor, I gathered my children, wife, and relatives. I told them not to get involved in any projects in Jakarta, either directly or indirectly.

I emphasized on the same principle to my staff. I always tell them if I find any of them is involved in projects, I will dismiss her or him.

Of course, my children, for example, protested. They argued that they were ordinary citizens. They said if they followed the normal procedures, why couldn't they bid for projects? I'm sure, however, the fact that they are my children will affect the result. So I let them grumble. If they want to pursue development projects, they must wait until I steps down on Oct. 8.

You seem to be firm when it comes to policies. Is that so? Why?

Every leader undergoes a process of character building. Before becoming a governor, I had served in the military since 1968. I had been in the Army for 29 years, mostly in the Army's elite force (Kopassus), exactly for 25 years. In Kopassus, I was trained to risk my life. This is something common in every elite force, whose soldiers are assigned for special duties. As a governor, the risk is only losing my seat. That's easy.

When you're at odds with the central government, you don't seem to back down.

When I'm right, I fight them, why not? They should just take care of their own businesses. I'm the president of Jakarta, I'm the one taking care of the city.

So you think Jakarta's leader must be independent from the central government?

Not only in Jakarta actually. Remember the regional administration law passed in 1999. Under the decentralization regime, the central government should play a facilitator or regulator role only. But, now, it not only carries out the regulating and facilitating jobs but is also involved in the operational matters. Decentralization is stagnant. Why the State Secretariat cannot keep their hands off Senayan and Kemayoran areas, for instance?

The regulation is just clear enough, what's so difficult? If we want regions to experience robust development, we have to uphold the (decentralization) legislation.

What is the first thing you will do after relinquishing your gubernatorial post?

I will perhaps feel strange. I usually get busy immediately after waking up in the morning. But, well, I'm still involved in several organizations. I chair the PBSI (Indonesian Badminton Association), BAC (Badminton Asia Confederation) and ORARI (Indonesian Amateur Radio Organization). I'll give more time for these things. About politics, I'm telling you: Just wait and see.

Jakarta governor announces 100-day priorities

Governor Fauzi Bowo on Monday unveiled the working plan for his first 100 days in office, with his priorities focused on tackling some of Jakarta's most pressing problems.
Speaking at a press conference at City Hall, the governor said his 100-day plan, which covers the period of Oct. 8 to Jan. 15, included 19 priority programs that "will help create a more comfortable Jakarta for everyone".
"I guarantee you that we'll finalize these 19 programs within 100 days. These programs have also been taken into account in the 2007 revised city budget," Fauzi said. "I have my staff to support me. I'll bind them with a contract that will stipulate punishments and rewards for those involved. All you have to do is just watch the process." The governor did not elaborate on the planned punishments and rewards.
One of the priority programs is easing chronic traffic jams caused by the ongoing construction of busway lanes. Three new corridors are being built, linking Lebak Bulus in South Jakarta to Harmoni in Central Jakarta; Pinang Ranti in East Jakarta to Pluit in North Jakarta; and Cililitan in East Jakarta to Tanjung Priok in North Jakarta.
"We'll expand the streets alongside the busway lane construction and build ramps on busway lanes for motorists temporarily to use them, as well as assigning officers from the public order and city transportation agencies to monitor areas prone to traffic jams," Fauzi said.
The governor also promised the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) project, which eventually will stretch 14.3 kilometers from South Jakarta's Lebak Bulus to Central Jakarta's Dukuh Atas, would begin by the end of the year. "The loan for the MRT, or subway, project is now secured. We're expecting to have a company to handle the project by this year, with recruitment to be opened soon," he said. The money for the MRT project, which is expected to cost Rp 8.3 trillion (US$910 million), will be provided by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation in soft loans.
Another program calls for the administration to finish acquiring land for the East Flood Canal, a project that is expected to help reduce annual flooding in the capital. The administration needs to complete the acquisition of 13 hectares of land from residents of North Jakarta's Rorotan and Marunda subdistricts.

Fauzi's priority programs
1. Mitigating traffic jams caused by the ongoing construction of busway
corridors VIII, IX and X
2. Managing and re-routing traffic
3. Preparing Mass Rapid Transit project
4. Improving existing city institutions and issuing related regulations
5. Mitigating floods
6. Giving aid to the poor in the form of scholarship,
staple foods and health insurance
7. Providing more regulations, public facilities and easier access for handicapped
8. Revitalizing Jakarta's slums
9. Fighting drug abuse
10. Intensifying communication between the governor and Jakarta

(The Jakarta Post)

Public transportation

Public transportation is a never-ending urban problem. One thing, however, has ended, disappeared without a trace: the Jakartan pedicab, which had been wiped out due to some dubious reasons. One thing is clear, though; the pedicabs are a representation of the ineptitude of the government in managing the economy of the country. During the crisis in the 1980s, Governor Tjokropranolo of Jakarta gave more rooms for movements for the pedicabs, and so did Governor Sutiyoso after the monetary crisis in 1998—although the latter immediately rescinded this oral declaration. This is all because the government is unable to give some better job options. Pedicabs might exist, as long as they are not in Jakarta. But the pedicabs are as though as their drivers; after decades of abolition efforts, they still exist, as invincible as Rambo, one of the characters in a 1986 short story by Seno Gumira Ajidarma, Becak Terakhir di Dunia (Atawa Rambo) or The Last Pedicab on Earth (or Rambo).

In terms of their respective tourism policy, Jakarta and Yogyakarta clearly see things differently. To welcome the Visit Indonesia Year 1991, the governor of Jakarta at the time, Wiyogo, had another go at abolishing the pedicab to protect the tourists’ sight. Meanwhile in Yogyakarta, with that very reason plus many interests beyond it, “The pedicabs must be maintained [in Yogyakarta] until our dying days”—as proclaimed by the Mayor of Yogyakarta in 2004, quoted by Yoshi Fajar Kresno Murti in his article in this edition of Karbonjournal. The pedicabs have now disappeared from Jakarta but they still exist in Yogyakarta and other Indonesian cities and towns. Yoshi Fajar Kresno Murti enchantingly delineates the journey of the Yogyakartan pedicabs. Ending his essay with a note on the motor pedicabs in Yogyakarta, the writer re-questions his town’s vision for the future in terms of its public transportation.

Returning to the topic about Jakarta—how its grand plan has been created without recognizing the pedicabs—isn’t it better that Jakarta has no pedicabs today? Where would a pedicab driver go today? With or without the pedicabs, the traffic jams of Jakarta will remain and the blueprint for the Jakartan roads are unfriendly not only to the pedicabs but also to all kinds of vehicles and citizens.

The ojek drivers are omnipresent now, and so are the taxis that today exist with varying brands and tariffs—many drivers need money, and many business people need profits. Has the life of the taxi driver changed, however? You can compare today’s condition with the short essay by Seno Gumira Ajidarma republished here. The writer presents there his experiences with, and respect for, taxi drivers. These are also two of the things that Andry Mochamad wants to share to provide some common experience, by producing stickers for passengers to tag good bus drivers in 2001.

We do not cover all means of public transportation, and any new point of view that you might provide is always welcome. In the public transportation system, some things have changed and some things stay the same—just as I describe in my essay about the seating attitude of the passengers on the AC Patas buses, who will not only select where they would sit, but also with whom they want to sit. Such considerations reaffirm how scary the Jakartan roads are for the citizens. This also shows a yet another burden in the effort to improve the quality of the public transportation system: the long time it takes to change the attitude of the people.

http://www.karbonjournal.org/content/?p=155&language=en

TEMPAT MAKAN FAVORIT DI JAKARTA



BUBUR AYAM

Bubur Ayam Cikini, depan KFC (malam)

Bubur Ayam Jl. Tanjung, Menteng

Bubur Ayam Cideng, Ps. Cideng Tanah Abang (malam)

Bubur Ayam Sukabumi, Tebet

Bubur Ayam Senayan, yang enak yang di depan Istora, Mobil Ijo (Minggu pagi)

Bubur Ayam Sukabumi, Jl. Radio Dalam, pas tikungan

Bubur Ayam depan RS Pondok Indah (pagi)

Bubur Ayam Sawangan, depan Polsek Sawangan, Cinere (pagi)

Bubur Ayam Barito, depan makam jl. Barito

Aneka Bubur (Ayam, sapi, ikan, kepiting) Kwang Tung di Pecenongan, buka 24 jam

Bubur Ayam Slipi (belakang slipi jaya, dekat Golkar)

NASI GORENG

Nasi Goreng Kambing Kebon Sirih (malam)

Nasi Goreng Jl. Lembang, Menteng: jangan salah pilih cari yang rame 

Nasi Goreng Jl. Lombok, Menteng

Nasi Goreng Sosis, seberang Lippo Menteng depan Nanaban Tei

Nasi Goreng Sea Food Cikini, dekat KFC

Nasi Goreng Kambing Bakti, dekat Senopati, masuk dari Pom Bensin Senopati

Nasi Goreng Pekalongan, Jl. Fatmawati, Pondok Labu, depannya ex. Circle K

Nasi Goreng BNI Jln. Boulevard Kelapa gading depan BNI, buka malam saja

Nasi Goreng Jl. Daksa: (tau deh sekarang masih buka apa ngga...?)


NASI UDUK / WARTEG

Nasi Uduk Mas Miskun, Jl. Kramat Raya, dekat Hotel Acacia

Nasi Uduk Gondangdia, di bawahnya Fly Over Kereta Jl. Gondangdia Lama

Nasi Uduk Babe Saman, Jl. Kebon Kacang II, kalau nggak salah

Nasi Uduk Rawa Mangun, dekat Terminal Rawamangun

Nasi Uduk Spesial Jl. Kali Malang, deket terminal, dekat perempatan Jati Bening

Nasi Uduk Masdikun, tenda Apartemen Wisma gading, Jl Boulevard Kelapa Gading

Nasi Uduk Kota Intan Jln. Samanhudi di tenda kalo malam, di Kelapa Gading juga 

ada

Nasi Uduk Jl. Kebon kacang

Warteg Warmo, Tebet: setiap orang pasti tahu

Nasi Uduk Dikun, depan Komp. Pertanian, Ps. Minggu

Warteg Setia, Jl. Fatmawati, depan Ps. Mede: tempat makan selebriti

Warteq Gewart, dari arah Cililitan ke arah Jalan Squadron.  Sop dan tepung tempe pake sambal kecap cabe-nya .. top banget.

BAKMI / BAKSO / YAMIN

Bakmi Udin, Jl. Besuki, deket SD Besuki, Menteng

Bakso / Mie Bakso Jl. Tanjung

Mie Ayam Gang Kelinci: katanya sih yang enak di Gang Kelinci Ps. Baru

Bakmi Ps. Cikini

Bakso Komplek IKJ, deket Bioskop 21:tongkrongannya anak-anak IKJ

Bakso / Siomay LIA Pramuka

Bakso Matraman, di Jl. Matraman Raya, sebelahnya SD Marsudirini: Es Durennya

Mie deket gereja, depan PARKIT, Sabang

Bakmi Tropik, Ambassador Mall, Jl. Casablanca

Mie Lomie, Karet: hati-hati ada babi-nya

Baso Lapangan Tembak, Senayan

Mie Ayam Buncit, di Jl. Warung Buncit

Mie Engkoh, depan Komp. Pertanian Ps. Minggu

Bakso Titoti, dari Pancoran kira2 400m dari Goro sebelah kiri jalan

Bakmi Boy, Ps. Mayestik, Jl. Cikajang

Bakso Bola Tenis, dekat Lapangan Blok S (malam)

Bakso/Siomay Blok S, depannya RS Kebayoran: eh..Es Podengnya enak juga

Bakmi Pangsit depan RSB Asih, Melawai (BARU)

Bakmi Permata, Permata Hijau, dekat Tops Supermarket

Cwie Mie Malang (HCM) di Arteri Simatupang

Baso Tirta Marta Pondok Indah, depannya Sekolah Tirta Marta: Mie Ayam dpn gardu juga enak

Mie Yamin Tri-M Pondok Indah, pdi pertokoan dekat Ora et Labora PI

Bakmi Villa, belakang Villa Cinere Mas, Jl.Karang Tengah, Cinere

Bakso Galant, di Sunter pinggir kali

Bakso Mahkota di Roxy Mas & Jl Semeru Grogol

Bakso Aduhai/ Di pelataran parkir Mal Kelapa gading

Bakso samping Metro Pasar Baru, batagornya juga endang....

Bakmi Bintang Gading, di Jln Boulevard Kelapa Gading, tapi... non halal

Bakmi Karet (Krekot) di Jln. Samanhudi di dekel rel kereta api

Bakmi babat Senen, ada juga di Jln. Samanhudi

Bakmi Griya sebelah Dunlop Sunter Griya

Mie ceker bandung JL. Sambas pesen mi ceker yamin hummm...enakkkkkkk

Bakmi Yungma Bangka, Bogor.  Enak banget terutama mie ayam Yaminnya. Didepan PLN Bogor deket Stasiun Bogor.

Bakmi Golek, yang paling enak suasananya di Dewi Sartika.

AYAM GORENG / BAKAR

Ayam Goreng Pemuda, Jl. Surabaya, Menteng;Casblanca

Ayam Bakar Menteng, seberang Menteng Plaza

Pecel Ayam Bu Bambang, Ps. Benhil

Ayam Bakar Jl. Denpasar, Kuningan, dari Casablanca sebelah kanan jalan

(BARU)

Ayam Berkah, Blok M belakangnya SMP 56: yang enak yang tenda kuning, 

Ayam Taliwang, Tebet; Jl Wolter Monginsidi; Jl. P. Polim samping Apotik Jaya

Ayam Bakar SoGO (Somay Gope') sebelum Hero Kalimalang, kiri. Dari arah Halim

Ayam Bakar Gantari, sebelah Blok M plaza adannya di pinggir jalan. 

Ayam Goreng Bulungan Blok M

Ayam goreng Mardun di Mangga Besar VIII sebelah kwetiau sapi Mg Besar

Ayam Goreng Presto Ny. Nita Cabang Bali di Meruya & Jl. Boelevard Kelapa gading

Ayam Bakar di Bioskop Metrropol, deket RSCM, sambelnya enak.

Ayam Goreng Ny. Suharti Jln. Pemuda

Ayam Bakar Megaria, ada di bioskop Megaria dan Belakang Gedung Samudera- Slipi.  Es telernya juga enak.

SEA FOOD

Sea Food Rawamangun, deket Ps. Rawamangun

Sea Food 99, Kp. Melayu, dekat RS Mitra Keluarga

Ikan Tude, Jl. Blora

Sea Food di Pertokoan Bintaro Sektor 9, belakang Mc Donald Sektor 9

Sea Food depannya Bunderan PSKD IV Blok M

Sea Food 212 Wiro Sabelng Jl. Boulevard Kelapa Gading, lewatin Mal

Sea Food Baruna, pojokan depannya Balemang Café

Sea Food Muara Angke: bisa beli Ikan (milih sendiri) dan minta bakarin disana.

Sea Food Babe Lili di Jl. Wahid Hasyim terutama ikan kambing kambingnya

SATE

Sate Kambing Muda, bintaro (perempatan bintaro, gerbang bintaro) top banget

Sate Kambing Jalan Karawang (makan siang) kalo bingung cari teriak Buyung ..aja

Sate Ayam bunderan Kolam Lembang

Sate Kambing pojokan jalan Sabang, depan kantor Polisi: ngantri selalu

Sate Kambing Ny. Semarang, Megaria/Metropole

Sate Kambing Jono, Jl. Pejompongan

Sate Pancoran, Jl Raya Ps. Minggu, deketnya ILP

Sate Kambing Bu Yanti, Duren Tiga

Sate Blok S, tetanggaan ama Baso Blok S, depan RS Kebayoran

Sate Cikajang, Ps. Santa

Sate Apotik Jaya, Panglima Polim

Sate Ayam Jl. Samba

Sate Ayam depan RS Pertamina: uenakk!

Sate Hadori, Jl. Bangka, cabangnya Bandung: 

Sate Ayam di pertokoan Pondok Indah Plaza (Pertok), (malam)

Sate Tri-M Pondok Indah, di pertokoan deket Ora et Labora Pondok Indah

(siang)

Sate Kambing Pak Haji Jl. Karang Tengah, dekat perempatan Lb. Bulus (Hero Lb. Bulus) - Kr.Tengah

Sate Kambing, dekat Univ. Mpu Tantular.  Buka sore/malam.  Dagingnya gede-2 dan empuk. Ada tempat parker mobil.

Sejarah Kota Jakarta

Sejarah Jakarta bermula dari sebuah bandar kecil di muara Sungai Ciliwung sekitar 500 tahun silam. Selama berabad-abad kemudian kota bandar ini berkembang menjadi pusat perdagangan internasio-nal yang ramai.
Pengetahuan awal mengenai Jakarta terkumpul sedikit melalui berbagai prasasti yang ditemukan di kawasan bandar tersebut. Keterangan mengenai kota Jakarta sampai dengan awal kedatangan para penjelajah Eropa dapat dikatakan sangat sedikit.

Laporan para penulis Eropa abad ke-16 menyebutkan sebuah kota bernama Kalapa, yang tampaknya menjadi bandar utama bagi sebuah kerajaan Hindu bernama Sunda, beribukota Pajajaran, terletak sekitar 40 kilometer di pedalaman, dekat dengan kota Bogor sekarang.
Bangsa Portugis merupakan rombongan besar orang-orang Eropa pertama yang datang ke bandar Kalapa. Kota ini kemudian diserang oleh seorang muda usia, bernama Fatahillah, dari sebuah kerajaan yang berdekatan dengan Kalapa. Fatahillah mengubah nama Sunda Kalapa menjadi Jayakarta pada 22 Juni 1527. Tanggal inilah yang kini diperingati sebagai hari lahir kota Jakarta. Orang-orang Belanda datang pada akhir abad ke-16 dan kemudian menguasai Jayakarta.

Laporan para penulis Eropa abad ke-16 menyebutkan sebuah kota bernama Kalapa, yang tampaknya menjadi bandar utama bagi sebuah kerajaan Hindu bernama Sunda, beribukota Pajajaran, terletak sekitar 40 kilometer di pedalaman, dekat dengan kota Bogor sekarang.
Bangsa Portugis merupakan rombongan besar orang-orang Eropa pertama yang datang ke bandar Kalapa. Kota ini kemudian diserang oleh seorang muda usia, bernama Fatahillah, dari sebuah kerajaan yang berdekatan dengan Kalapa. Fatahillah mengubah nama Sunda Kalapa menjadi Jayakarta pada 22 Juni 1527. Tanggal inilah yang kini diperingati sebagai hari lahir kota Jakarta. Orang-orang Belanda datang pada akhir abad ke-16 dan kemudian menguasai Jayakarta.

Nama Jayakarta diganti menjadi Batavia. Keadaan alam Batavia yang berawa-rawa mirip dengan negeri Belanda, tanah air mereka. Mereka pun membangun kanal-kanal untuk melindungi Batavia dari ancaman banjir. Kegiatan pemerintahan kota dipusatkan di sekitar lapangan yang terletak sekitar 500 meter dari bandar. Mereka membangun balai kota yang anggun, yang merupakan kedudukan pusat pemerintahan kota Batavia. Lama-kelamaan kota Batavia berkembang ke arah selatan. Pertumbuhan yang pesat mengakibatkan keadaan lilngkungan cepat rusak, sehingga memaksa penguasa Belanda memindahkan pusat kegiatan pemerintahan ke kawasan yang lebih tinggi letaknya. Wilayah ini dinamakan Weltevreden.