The Jakarta Globe, September 27, 2012
Jakarta Governor-elect and Deputy Governor-elect Joko Widodo and Basuki Tjahaja Purnama are planning to build clean, modest and modern apartments for middle- and low-income families currently living along the Ciliwung River.
“There has to be a newer [option] for middle- and low-income citizens. It’s not a flat, but maybe it’s more appropriate to call it a modest apartment because it’s basically the same,” Basuki said during a visit to the BeritaSatu newsroom on Wednesday.
According to Basuki, riverbank areas can be categorized as slums due to the proliferation of unsanitary, ramshackle housing that often springs up there. He added that he and Joko are responsible for improving the capital by providing clean and modern housing options for lower-income residents.
“They [should be] given a decent place [to live], a [proper] apartment that has four doors [should be] on every block,” he said.
Basuki added that he and the governor-elect have designed a program and coordinated with Vice President Boediono on the relocation of residents who are living along riverbanks in substandard and often dangerous housing.
“As for the project work, we can ask the private sector to help us out. Say, for example, we don’t have enough money to paint the walls, we can ask companies to [assist us]. I don’t think the residents would mind if they see the name of the company on their wall,” he said.
One potential location for the project is Muara Karang in North Jakarta. Basuki said that the site that was being considered for relocation efforts would allow those moved there to retain their middle-class identity.
“Most important is discipline,” he said. “I think [the plan] can be realized.”
The deputy governor-elect added that Joko has given him the responsibility of implementing the plan while the governor-elect deals with other matters.
“The distribution of work is clear. I will handle what [he] can’t handle. One notch lower than the governor and just one step behind the him — that’s the philosophy that will be adopted,” he said.
Joko’s actual policies will not be known until after he officially takes office. Based on remarks he and Basuki made on the campaign trail, the new governor will most likely implement what the Jakarta Globe calls Jokonomics, in reference to his economic policies that emphasize the bottom-up empowerment of society through various economic programs.
His emphasis on redesigning the city’s spatial plan to allow for the establishment of low-cost apartments and his integration of housing and transportation policies have created anxiety for some business leaders in the property and retail sectors.
Joko has said that, while not being specifically against the construction of new shopping malls, he plans to modernize traditional markets as viable alternatives.
( Great ideas or plain politicians "speak"?, build low-cost flats/housing complexes for those on low to middle incomes good, but where is the finance going to come from?, clear the slums along the river banks, or making room for those without any regular income to create even bigger slums, muses old Kesas)
do 27 sep 2012 - 2:23