Prodita Sabarini, Jakarta – A non-governmental group is urging residents to play an active role in monitoring the performance of the city's next governor and deputy governor, who will be elected in an August poll.

Azas Tigor Nainggolan of the Jakarta Residents Forum, or Fakta, said his group would draw up a list of the city's problems, so people could then grade the new administration on how well it addressed these problems.

"If they do not deliver, they will lose popularity and votes in the next election," he said. Jakartans can expect to have more say in how the city is run with the introduction of direct gubernatorial elections, he said.

Two candidates will contest the August election. They are Jakarta's current deputy governor, Fauzi Bowo, who is backed by a major coalition of parties, known as the Jakarta Coalition.

The other candidates is former National Police deputy chief Adang Daradjatun, who was nominated by the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), the city's largest party.

Azas said with the power of the ballot box now at their disposal, Jakartans should be more forceful in monitoring the work of the city administration. Fakta is now setting up a workshop to draw up a list of Jakarta's most pressing problems.

"We will invite representatives from all areas of Jakarta as well as from all the different communities, such as sidewalk vendors, trash-pickers and intellectuals," Azas said. Azas said the workshop was planned for next week.

He said he did not know what problems would eventually make the list, but hinted that pushing the administration to do more for the poor would be one priority.

Jakarta, with a population well over 10 million, is grappling with a host of urban problems such as poverty, lack of housing, poor public transportation, environmental degradation and annual floods.

Azas said the group would deliver the final list to both governor candidates. "The list will serve as performance indicators for the elected governor. Jakarta residents will be able to see for themselves whether their concerns are being addressed by the administration or not. This gives the people political power."

Fakta says it will publish a report on the new administration's performance every six months. Azas said because of the introduction of direct elections, this new list would have more of an impact on the government than the social contract Fakta initiated for the city council in 2004.

In 2004, the group asked the 75 city councilors to sign this social contract promising not to accept bribes. Only four councilors signed. "Maybe they were afraid," Azas said.

Unlike the social contract, he said the list of city problems would not need to be signed by the elected governor. "Their work will show whether they address the problems of city dwellers or not. And residents can have their say in the next election."