Coalition Of Struggle For Jakarta Residents Worried That DKI Provincial Government Extends Water Privatization Contract

Representative of Kopaja from LBH Jakarta, Jeanny Silvia/PHOTO: Diah Ayu-VOI

JAKARTA - A group of residents on behalf of the Jakarta Citizens' Struggle Coalition (Kopaja) has demanded that DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan resolve 9 crucial problems in Jakarta, one of which is ensuring that the water privatization contract is terminated.

In this regard, the DKI Provincial Government previously announced that the water management cooperation contract with the private sector, namely PT PAM Lyonnaise Jaya (Palyja) and PT Aetra Air Jakarta, would expire in January 2023.

However, Kopaja Representative from LBH Jakarta, Jeanny Silvia, said that her party doubted the certainty of the termination of the water privatization contract. Jeanny admitted that she was worried that the water privatization would still be extended.

"There could be an extension, collusion. The worry is the extension of the contract period. That can't be done," said Jeanny at DKI Jakarta City Hall, Tuesday, August 23.

Concerns about the potential for extension of the water privatization contract are caused by a number of things.

For example, Jeanny explained, until now the Governor of DKI Jakarta, Anies Baswedan, has yet to disclose information and open the widest possible space for public participation related to the transition process or remunicipalization of water management.

In addition, Anies also has not guaranteed that the service of providing access to clean water to residents during the transition process is not neglected. According to Jeanny, Anies has not made any special regulations based on information disclosure and broad participation to ensure the transition process of water management can be realized and ensure that there are no efforts to continue the privatization of water in DKI Jakarta.

Jeanny explained her reason for demanding that the privatization of water be stopped and that clean water management services must be fully carried out by the government. According to him, the privatization of water is very detrimental to the people of Jakarta.

"Water privatization is clearly harming the people of DKI Jakarta, it is also detrimental to regional finances," he said.

Therefore, 2 months before Anies' term ends as regional head in the capital, Jeanny urged the former Minister of Education and Culture to ensure that the water privatization cooperation contract is not extended.

"Even if Pak Anies is unable to stop him at the end of his term of office, then he must ensure that his contract does not continue, it will expire in February 2023. Do not let there be an extension later," he added.