Mustaqim Adamrah, Jakarta – City Council members gave a mixed response Tuesday to the ambitious 100-day program Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo unveiled the previous day.

The chairman of Commission D for city development, Sayogo Hendrosubroto, said he was optimistic the governor's 100-day plan could be achieved.

"Me and my commission members are sure the programs (in the plan) will be finalized within 100 days," Sayogo of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle told The Jakarta Post.

Fauzi on Monday announced his 100-day plan, which covers the period of Oct. 8 to Jan. 15, or his first 100 days in office. The plan contains 19 priority programs.

The governor said he would bind his staff with a contract to ensure the programs are implemented within the timeframe. The contract will contain punishments, including transfers, and rewards. He also said the City Council had allocated money from the revised 2007 city budget for the 19 priority programs.

According to Sayogo, the 2007 revised city budget is still at the Home Ministry awaiting approval, which is expected this week.

Agus Darmawan, a member of Commission E for public welfare, said he endorsed the governor's plan "and so should the people".

"Making the city a better place to live and more comfortable for everyone is what people need, despite different definitions of comfort. But the governor must match the human resources and funding with his programs," said Agus who is from the National Mandate Party.

He acknowledge he did not know the details of the governor's 100-day plan, saying he had just returned home from a minor haj pilgrimage.

One of the priority programs is easing chronic traffic jams caused by the ongoing construction of busway lanes. Three new corridors are being built, linking South Jakarta's Lebak Bulus to Central Jakarta's Harmoni; East Jakarta's Pinang Ranti to North Jakarta's Pluit; and East Jakarta's Cililitan to North Jakarta's Tanjung Priok.

The governor also promised the Mass Rapid Transit project, which eventually will stretch 14.3 kilometers from South Jakarta's Lebak Bulus to Central Jakarta's Dukuh Atas, would begin by the end of the year.

Another program calls for the administration to finish acquiring land for the East Flood Canal, a project that is expected to help reduce annual flooding in the capital.

Though Fauzi has promised the commitment of city administration staff in realizing these programs, Commission D deputy head Mukhayar is pessimistic about their chance of success.

"I doubt Fauzi will successfully implement his 100-day plan. For example, traffic jams have been an issue for years. What can he possibly do within 100 days?" he said. "Moreover, nothing is new in his programs. All he's going to work on are old programs."