TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Administration has asked riverbank squatters across the capital to be more receptive of the Administration's plan to relocate them to subsidised apartments.

"We built these units to accomodate those who will be impacted by our plan to normalise our riverbanks," said Jakarta Governor, Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama at the City Hall on Thursday, May 28, 2015.

As such, continued Ahok, those affected are encouraged to register to their local district chiefs in order to speed up the relocation process. "Those who did not register will not be eligible for placement in the units," Ahok said.

The former Regent of East Belitung said that an extensive socialisation will be carried put before the demolitions are carried out. "This way, residents will be more prepared," said Ahok.

Ahok said that previously, his Administration has given plenty of residents extra time to move out - as such, delays due to unpreparedness on the residents' part will no longer be tolerated.

"When can we begin to work to improve Jakarta? We want residents to support our efforts to normalize the riverbanks - we are doing this to prevent floods from returning," said Ahok.

ANTARANEWS