Pramono: There are People Who Want Jakarta to Flood 

JAKARTA - DKI Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung admitted that not all parties are happy if Jakarta manages to reduce flood problems. According to him, this is seen from the pros and cons that arise in every flood mitigation policy implemented by the DKI Provincial Government.

This was conveyed by Pramono in his remarks at the signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding between the National Resilience Agency (Lemhannas) and the DKI provincial government regarding the Improvement and Development of National Resilience in DKI Jakarta.

"I said, what I did, of course, there are those who are happy, there are those who are not happy. Including weather modification. Not everyone is happy that Jakarta is not flooded. There are also those who want Jakarta to flood," said Pramono at the DKI Jakarta City Hall, Wednesday, January 28.

Pramono gave an example of one of the policies taken by the DKI Provincial Government, namely regarding the implementation of weather modification operations (OMC). Criticism of the policy emerged from a number of parties.

According to Pramono, the criticism is a natural thing. However, he claims, this step was taken solely for the benefit of the community and the public at large, not for the benefit of certain groups.

"The weather modification that we are carrying out is criticized, it's okay. But what I am doing is for the public's interest, the public's interest," said Pramono.

According to Pramono, the main task of a leader is to solve problems, not to add problems. He emphasized the importance of a solutive leadership and not getting stuck in internal conflicts.

"I feel that during my tenure as Governor of DKI Jakarta, almost a year, this month I am one year, next month I am one year, I feel that I have never been angry," claimed Pramono.

Thus, Pramono said the approach he used in leading referred to the principles of solutive and strategic. This principle, according to him, was applied in solving various old problems in Jakarta that were not completed in the previous period.

"So if you look at what I did, all the policies of the old governor, the Governor of DKI Jakarta, I mean, that were not finished, bismillah I will finish," said Pramono.

Pramono gave examples of a number of projects that are now beginning to show progress, ranging from the demolition of the broken monorail pole, the construction of a bridge connecting the Jakarta International Stadium (JIS) with the Ancol area, to the completion of the Sumber Waras Hospital land problem and its utilization.

He also touched on the message of the former Governor of DKI Jakarta Fauzi Bowo regarding the arrangement and protection of the Betawi indigenous people, which is still being pursued. "What is the message from Bang Foke for the Betawi indigenous people. Hopefully it will be completed soon. This turns out to be more difficult," said Pramono.

"Because a statesman is a key word for a leader to be able to think about anything, no longer thinking about personal issues, but a broader context," he continued.