Lenny Tristia Tambun – Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo issued a stern warning to the capital's public officials on Thursday: Shape up in six months or you're gone.
Joko spoke before a room of local urban ward, subdistrict and municipal heads on Thursday after finding several city offices empty during an unannounced visit on Tuesday. He said they have six months to improve, and that surprise inspections could begin as early as next week.
"Do not think that my inspections of the subdistricts and urban wards or the municipal office ended with those in the past few days," Joko said. "No, every single day I will visit places of service to the public."
Joko told the assembled crowd that municipal offices should resemble banks and provide residents with quick and efficient service.
"If there are officials who do not share our vision and mission, we will leave them behind," he said. "They will be transferred elsewhere or taken from their posts." The new governor said that he plans to continue pushing for changes in the capital.
"If there are things that are not working fine, then I will note them," he said. "These reports are necessary." (BeritaSatu, JG)