JAKARTA. In the wake of the resignation of North Jakarta mayor Rustam Effendi, Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama has challenged any city officials who dislike him to resign to make way for "more competent" civil servants.
He made the public challenge to senior city officials through a live broadcast on Kompas TV, urging any who opposed him to step down from their positions no later than Monday. The remarks came on the heels of the resignation of Rustam the previous week, which reportedly caused quite a stir at the Jakarta administration.
"If civil servants feel they are too rich and no longer want to serve the administration, because now they cannot 'play' with the administration's projects, it would be better for them to resign. We have a lot of civil servants who can perform well," Ahok told journalists on Monday.
The vacant positions would be filled not only by younger civil servants but also by senior city employees. However, as of Monday, no resignation letter had arrived on his desk, Ahok said.
Rustam's resignation was not the first of Ahok's administration, with several high-ranking officials quitting their positions following differences of perspective with the outspoken governor. Those who have felt unable to work alongside Ahok include former Jakarta Housing Agency chief Novizal, Industry and Energy Agency head M. Haris Pindratno and Water Management Agency head Tri Djoko Sri Margianto
Rustam's hinted at internal dispute within the city administration. Rustam resigned from his post after being scolded publicly by Ahok over his alleged negligence over eviction programs and floods in North Jakarta in mid-April.
"I have drawn a line. The civil servants who want to build a new Jakarta follow me to the left, those who don't, please turn right," the governor went on.
The resignation of city officials would also help the city's ballooning budget, with civil servant salaries reaching Rp 18.7 trillion in this year's city budget, Ahok added. (Callistasia Anggun Wijaya)
