TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Acting Governor of Jakarta Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama, said that he is not concerned over a jump in the number of Jakarta residents after Eid al-Fitr. Ahok said that he is not planning on conducting the Justicial Operation, given that he has prepared two scenario to counter the issue of increasing number of residents. "It is fine if they come to Jakarta, as long as they do not have social-welfare issue," said Ahok.
Rather than conducting the Justicial Operation, Ahok prefers to coordinate with the Military District Commando, state-owned train company Kereta Api Indonesia, and the Directorate General of Land Transportation to sterilize slum areas under the toll road and next to railways starting in August 2014. Therefore, Jakarta can also eradicate the slum impression. "We will make it difficult for [the newcomers] to find a place to live," he said.
Moreover, Ahok also plans to remove factories to regions out of Jakarta, by planning construction projects of industrial centers in Central and East Java following the establishment of the double track railroad. "The fact is, most of the newcomers are from [Central and East Java]," said Ahok.
As for repatriating underprivileged newcomers, Ahok said that the city administration will force them to sign an agreement of not returning to the capital. "If they still return later in the future, we will report them to the police for fraud," said Ahok.
LINDA HAIRANI