The honeymoon is over, Let’s give Jokowi a hard time

The honeymoon is over,  Let’s give Jokowi a hard time Amron Hamdi ;  A Graduate of Texas A & M University and Syiah Kuala University in Aceh

JAKARTA POST, 12 Januari 2013

It has been interesting to follow the hype following Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s campaign and eventual victory in Jakarta’s gubernatorial election. The erstwhile mayor of Surakarta, Central Java, and his running mate, Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, have earned an enormous amount of public adulation surprisingly quickly and easily. It was only a matter of time before people started to use the phrase “Jokowow” to describe the unconventional and populist moves made by Jokowi and Ahok. The latest “Jokowow”, which was also praised nationwide, was the governor’s descent into a sewer on one of the city’s busiest streets, Jl. Thamrin, on Dec. 26.  He used the occasion to announce plans to build a tunnel stretching from Jl. MT Haryono in South Jakarta to Pluit in North Jakarta to help resolve five of the city’s most persistent problems: flooding, a lack of potable water, waste management, public transportation and poor infrastructure for public utilities. Critics said that he should have just looked at existing studies on the problems instead of engaging in yet another publicity stunt Whatever their motivations, Jokowi and Ahok have certainly won the sympathy and respect of the public — formidable assets in promoting their plans and ideas. The pair’s adroit use of mainstream and social media also deserves praise; Videos of their meetings with city officials and of field inspections are now easily accessible via YouTube and are frequently broadcast by local television channels. The business of the people previously conducted in star chambers is now done before the public candidly, revealing interesting facts about Jakarta’s management — and mismanagement. Kompas has dedicated a daily column reporting on the first 100 days in office of the dynamic duo, a fact that underscores the relevance and attractiveness of Jokowi’s plans to the people of Jakarta and to the nation in general. It is very understandable why people in the country long for government officials who genuinely work for the greater good, and not the greater good of special interests or the corrupt. We all have had the same feeling of being cheated by officials and representatives who came off very strong at the very beginning while turning out to be just another disappointment. Examples of our disappointment are legion: Andi Mallarangeng is under investigation for his involvement in the corruption related to the Hambalang sports center; lawmaker Angelina Sondakh only sentenced to four-and-a-half years’ imprisonment, much less than the 12 years’ demanded by prosecutors, in the same scandal. Suffice it to say that the people in this country had few options as when choosing honest and capable leaders before Jokowi and Ahok emerged as long-awaited saviors. Nevertheless, despite the hype and promises that the dynamic duo has made, should the public have high expectations? The answer is no. It is not that Jokowi and Ahok are untrustworthy or incapable of undertaking the massive reforms and projects that Jakarta requires. It is simply because what they have been doing is what government officials are supposed to be doing. To berate lazy and incapable staff is what any governor or vice governor is supposed to do, just as they are also expected to inspect flood canals during the rainy season, to have transparent development and budget meetings as well as alleviating poverty and protecting minorities.  Simply put, Jokowi and Ahok are doing what they must as the leaders of Jakarta. Sure, the way that they are executing their duties is somewhat new and refreshing; but it is important to keep in mind that we also need to see results. Looking at the track record of our previous leaders, there is no other choice but to be tough on our current leaders. It might be harsh and cruel, but that’s what our elected leaders signed up for. Public service is not for cowards, lazy bums or short-cutters. There are a host of more comfortable and easier ways to get career satisfaction, wealth and the other things life could offer. As they chose to be in public service, Jokowi and Ahok need to work harder to prove that they are who they say they are. For sure, publicity stunts are sometimes necessary to direct people attention to certain issues; in Jokowi’s case, I am sure the events were also staged to teach his subordinates how to get things done. But we need to be mindful that it takes more than publicity stunts to execute plans. The sustained work needed to realize Jokowi’s plans will be demanding; planning and budgeting, regulating, coordinating, implementing, monitoring and so forth. These processes should also be transparent so that the public can adjust their expectations as to what is doable and what is not. In short, we do not want to see other aspiring leaders lazily “copy-pasting” what Jokowi and Ahok have done to get approval from the public while doing something else behind closed doors. Giving Jokowi — and any other local or national leader — a hard time is what is best for us. ●