TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A year has passed since Joko Widodo and Basuki Tjahaja Purnama officially took over the reins as Jakarta's leaders on October 15, 2012. During the era of the governor and deputy governor's leadership, bureaucratic reforms could only be seen on the levels of sub-district and neighborhood unit administrators. Last June, 267 new neighborhood chiefs and 44 new sub-district chiefs were elected through an open recruitment.
Last Monday, Tempo interviewed Jakarta's much loved governor where he ensured that administrative reforms would not stop there. "We'll see who gets slaughtered next," said Joko, dubbed Jokowi by his fans and the media. Excerpts from the interview:
What are the results of the bureaucratic reformations this past year?
We want to bring in a new tradition that is result oriented, which means service. In December, there will be a survey for the public to discover whether they feel that have been served by their neighborhood units and sub-districts. All bureaucracies are happy with a comfortable zone. Unfortunately, it is not built based on a culture of competition and results, and is instead (built based on) procedure. That is why there was an open recruitment for positions. We want to have a bureaucracy where leaders in areas serve (the public). This certainly needs time.
Aside from the survey, how do you gain feedback on the administration's performance?
There is a complaint center on the third floor of the City Hall. I obtain reports from this center every Friday. So, during the leadership meeting each Monday, I convey, "what you must do, this is not good, this is good."
Most of the complaints are about the transportation sector, specifically about traffic congestion. Do you have any plans to reform the Transportation Department?
If I reform it (the Transportation Department), will that mean the streets will be free from traffic congestion? The basic issue lies in the late development of mass transportation. The monorail and MRT (mass rapid transit) should have been established 20 years ago. We do not dare impose the odd-even license plate system because what will the public use if public transport is already packed? The problems on the field are complicated.
So how do you reward and punish?
I never get angry. We'll just see who gets slaughtered next. If someone is placed in a position and (that person) can solve a problem, why should he or she be removed? However, if the person is useless or instead, creates more problems, why should the person remain (in that position)?
Do the inputs from your "spies" on the field influence your policies?
Their duty is to check programs on the field. To balance it out with bureaucracy, there must be other "ears". Don’t let us be fenced in resulting in the information we receive to only be "good, Sir, everything’s great". I am the one who decides whether the issue should be handled by the mayor, sub-district chief, or neighborhood chief. I test them first. When they complain, then I handle it.
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