TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Head of Ombudsman’s Jakarta office Dominikus Dalu responded to the criticism issued by Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan on the institution’s authority concerning the governor’s Tanah Abang revamp plans.

Dalu said that Ombudsman Jakarta plans to hold a plenary meeting with leaders of the Indonesian Ombudsman to raise that status of its final report (LHAP) into an official recommendation if the Jakarta administration does not revise its Tanah Abang revamp policy.

Read also: Anies Baswedan Reveals Why He Questions Ombudsman Findings

“The recommendation will be signed by the Indonesian Ombudsman Chairman,” said Dominikus Dalu on Tuesday, March 27.

As a move to directly respond to Anies Baswedan’s criticism, Dominikus asserted that both the Indonesian Ombudsman and its representatives are a single entity and that the substance of each of their findings can be turned into a recommendation if it qualifies.

Reports previously suggested that the Jakarta Governor questioned the authority of the Ombudsman Jakarta office in issuing a recommendation and an ultimatum to the Jakarta administration regarding the Tanah Abang revamp policy that saw one of the public streets closed to be used as a space for street vendors.

Governor Anies Baswedan maintained that an official recommendation can only be handled by the Indonesian Ombudsman, not the Ombudsman Jakarta office. Dominikus then urged the governor to focus on fixing the problems instead of hassling on matters of authority.

BUDIARTI UTAMI PUTRI