What has Anies Baswedan achieved? What are the remaining programs that he would still manage to do in more or less than a year?
Becoming Governor in the capital Jakarta Metropolitan (DKI Jakarta) would be a means for Anies Baswedan to realize his dream to dedicate himself for the country that his grandfather, AR Baswedan, one of the founding fathers of the Republic of Indonesia, had fought for.
After winning his toughest political battles in Jakarta, Anies immediately prepared a list of what he would promise to accomplish in his campaign to the citizens of Jakarta if it turned out that the choice of the people of DKI fell to him.
It did not take long, after being inaugurated as the Governor of DKI, 2017-2022, Anies immediately worked to realize his vision and mission to change not only so that Jakarta would be physically more beautiful, better, more ready to serve all citizens, but also more importantly, making Jakarta socio-culturally more conducive to being the best window for this country in the international eyes, and building optimism for his people that life in the near future would be hopeful and better.
Time runs fast. All of the sudden, Anies has spent his previous time in leading the Jakarta Metropolitan government and serving the residents for 4 years.
What has he achieved? What are the remaining programs that he would still manage to do in more or less than a year? And, after becoming the Governor of DKI, where else would Anies continue in his political career? Will he prepare to become the Number 1 leader in this Republic he loves so much?
Of course, running again for re-election of the Governor of DKI in the Pilkada in 2024 is a reasonable option. After being considered successful, Anies already has the necessity capital as an incumbent for re-election.
However, it seems that he would open all lines of possibilities in the near future, to take advantage of the available time.
And Anies, who is now only 52 years old, and very healthy. At that age, it is natural for him to have healthy ambitions to take on greater responsibilities: to become a leader in the country that his grandfather, AR Baswedan, co-founded.
Governor Anies conceived to KBA reporter, after 4 years of being in charge of Jakarta, he apparently has a great desire to travel around Indonesia, after being free at the end of 2022.
His status as Governor of Jakarta, in the remaining is approximately one year away. In his last term, Governor Anies said he just wanted to complete the rest of his priority program. No more and no less, he would focus on completing political promises during the 2017 election campaign.
Four years have passed. Governor Anies has made many dreams of Jakarta residents come true.
In his first year leading the Capital, Anies immediately made a splash. He stopped the reclamation project on Jakarta’s northern coast.
On September 26, 2018, Anies issued a decree revoking the permits of 13 reclaimed islands. Following up on the decision, the Jakarta North Coast Reclamation Management Coordinating Board was formed through Governor Regulation No. 58 of 2018 on June 4.
The agency’s job is to verify all reclamation activities on the North Coast of Jakarta, because the developer did not carry out its existing obligations.
It did not stop there. Anies then closed the famous entertainment venue in Jakarta. This policy was carried out considering that many entertainment venues in Jakarta become places of drug trafficking and prostitution.
Anies does not want his government lives on income derived from distorted business taxes.
One of them was Alexis nightlife in Pademangan area, Ancol, North Jakarta, in March 2018. In addition, this place was accused of being the site of human trafficking. The closure was conducted by revoking the business license of PT Grand Ancol Paragon.
Following Alexis, Sense Karaoke and Exotic Discotheque were also closed in April 2018 for alleged drug dealing.
Still in the same year, Anies again realized housing is a big issue for the people of Jakarta, especially for the low fortunes. Anies immediately realized the desire of Jakartans to have housing program offer without down payment, or known popularly as Program DP 0 Rupiah.
To speed up the realization of the program, in October 2018, Anies issued regulations related to the DP 0 rupiah home financing scheme. The rule is contained in the Governor Regulation No 104 of 2018 on Home Acquisition Financing Facilities for Low Income People.
In addition, Anies resumed the construction of the delayed BMW Stadium project. Anies wants the stadium would be similar to the Manchester United’s Old Trafford in England. The stadium has a capacity of 50,000 spectators and will be equipped with apartments, shopping centers to integrate with full transportation mode service.
Entering the second year, Anies continued to work on a number of programs. One of them was introduction of a new welfare program for people of Jakarta through five types of welfare program in different cards.
Anies then issued The Jakarta Smart Card (KJP) Plus in the form of education fund assistance, Jakarta Excellent Student Card (KJMU) in the form of education funds for students, and Jakarta Workers Card (KPJ). Then followed by adding two more cards: Jakarta Disability Card (KPDJ) and Jakarta Seniors Card (KLJ). The values in each welfare card are different.
After the first year, Anies introduced a program to organize Jakarta for the second year. He started with sidewalks make-over to make them more comfortably equipped with sloping fields and guide tiles, and elevators designed for pregnant women, the elderly and people with disabilities.
Anies then installed CCTV and pelican crossing. Sidewalks are also made integrated with Transjakarta Jakarta buses, MRT and LRT.
Anies also solved some perennial problems of the city transportation in Jakarta. In this sense, he launched Jak Lingko or integrated intermodal transportation in Jakarta. Jak Lingko integrates all types of transportation modes, both Angkot (local city transport), Transjakarta, and rail-based transportation, light rail transit (LRT) and mass rapid transit (MRT).
In honoring and paying respect to people who have worked as retired civil servants, teachers, military and police personnels, independence heroes up to the level of former President/Vice President, Anies introduced a program to exempt them from obligatory annual housing tax (PBB).
In September 2019 there were 19,929 tax housing objects that were free of the PBB annual housing tax, with a value of Rp180.4 billion. The PBB exemption program is valid for up to 2 generations below, while for heroes and recipients of star decorations from President, is valid up to 3 generations below.
During the first two years, Anies had completed many of his programs with positive results.
In the third year, the coronavirus pandemic from Wuhan, China, hit Indonesia. The first case was found in March 2019, infecting residents of Depok, West Java. As the results, Anies’ priority program changed. Central Government required all regional local government heads, including Anies, to focus on handling with pandemics in their respective regions.
At that time, Anies decided to embark on a large-scale social restriction policy (PSBB) program. Centers of crowd in the city are closed. Study and work activities are diverted to home, work or study from home. Transportation and outdoor activities were restricted.
Jakarta which is usually crowded suddenly deserted. No one would dare to move outside their house. Governor Anies applied tight guard control, and no crowds policy, while shopping malls were closed, tourist centers were not operating.
Anies’ efforts to suppress positive numbers paid off and situations are back to get under control. He tried to implement the New Normal across all sectors. starting from shopping centers, tourist attraction spots, transportation and in other public places in Jakarta.
Jakarta began to live normally in the late 2020 to early 2021. One by one shopping centers began to open, activities in houses of worship began to be allowed, eating in restaurants was also welcome. But it’s not like before the pandemic hit, there ought to be health protocols to be adhered to.
Anies is now contemplating to accomplish what has been pending in his 2021-2022 program, the last year for him as Governor. In the last year, Governor Anies has decided to complete his 28 priority program items. One of them is the Formula E, (electric) car racing world title must be held in Jakarta. The target is in June 2022.
Then utilizing the management of assets of the Jakarta Provincial Government by Jakpro in Taman Ismail Marzuki, Velodrome and JIS Stadium the deadline in December 2021 must also be focused. Anies also hopes that the Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM) revitalization projects phase 1 and 2 would be completed in December 2021.
In December 2021, Governor Anies also target the JIS Stadium project could be inaugurated and operated. Another project that must be completed that Governor Anies would not spare in his priority project is the access of the Eastern Outer Ring toll road to the Rorotan Reserve Land area. The deadline in June 2022, 4 months before his would be last mandate as Governor.
To support for the flood control project, Anies hopes to construct a number of reservoir naturalization projects to be completed in August 2021, namely Brigif reservoir, Lebak Bulus reservoir, Pondok Rangon reservoir, Embung Kebagusan and Kama reservoirs. These reservoirs are also part of the flood control programs.
In this regards, Anies also targets to complete land procurement for river normalization in 2021. The target is until October 2021.
To complete the housing projects, Anies ordered his officials in charge to finalize negotiations on credit agreement of at least 500 units of the DP 0 rupiah houses projects in collaboration with private developers.
In enriching the Jakarta Metropolitan transport corridors, Governor Anies has established new corridors of 14 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Transjakarta (Jaklingko) which is targeted to be completed in October 2022.
Another ambitious project is the FATMAWATI – TMII MRT route. Anies hopes that he could secure the principle agreement of the route based on studies that have met the rules of investment and the principle of value for money. The deadline is October 2021.
Finally, Governor Anies Baswedan also hoped to finalize the construction of bicycle lanes, including improvements to the existing ones, with a total length of 298 km that must be completed in August 2022.
By completing what he promised during the political campaign in 2017, the programs he dedicates to the people of Jakarta, Governor Anies Baswedan would feel relieved that has has done something he dearly likes to do as his contribution to the country he and his grandfather love very much. (kba)