Adianto P. Simamora, Jakarta – Activists from the Jakarta Environmental Caucus have questioned the gubernatorial candidates' commitment to the environment after neither turned up Wednesday evening to sign a contract on environmental policies.

"Their absence means the two candidates are yet to side with Jakarta's environment. It's a test of whether or not they are committed to improving the environment," said Dede Nurdin Sadat, the secretary general of the caucus.

While shredding the contract prepared for Fauzi Bowo, the Caucus gave one week to Adang Daradjatun to sign after Adang sent his campaign team leader Igo Ilham to attend the event.

The Caucus sent invitations to the candidates two days before the event, asking them to sign the contract stating, among other things, that the new governor must appoint a deputy on environmental issues and allocate at least 10 percent of the city budget for environmental protection programs.

The contract also stated that the new governor should improve the city's air quality, public transportation, open and green spaces and resolve perennial flooding.

The contract called on the governor to control urbanization by banning the development of new commercial buildings in the capital. The contract also urged the Jakarta administration to come up with strategies to deal with the consequences of global warming.

The city allocated less than seven percent of this year's Rp 21 trillion (US$2.3 billion) budget to the environment.

Dede said the contract would serve as a basis for residents to monitor the work of the elected governor to improve the environment. "Environmental problems have been at a critical level. The elected governor must work from zero to revitalize it, that's why the contract could boost the political will of a leader," he said.

Igo said that most of the content of the contract had been stated in Adang's environmental policy. "I think we won't have problems with the contract because the issues are not new for us. We have targeted them in our platform," he said.

Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) Jakarta executive director Slamet Daroyni criticized the candidates' failure to turn up to the signing. "How can we expect huge improvements in the environment if the candidates refuse to sign targets that must be achieved once they are elected governor?" he asked.

He said the environmental visions and missions of the two candidates gave no concrete solutions to long-standing environmental problems faced by the city. "The environmental ideas of the two candidate are still very shallow... I can be sure the environment would not change much whoever wins the election," he said.

Urban planner and environmentalist Darrundono said quality of living in the city depended on the state of the environment. "We can't boost public welfare if the city's environment remains poor. As the two candidates decide to contest for the gubernatorial chair, they must dare to sign the contract," he said.

A political expert from the University of Indonesia, Andrinof Chaniago, called for the public to present written contracts to the candidates to pressure them to keep their promises.