On 7th February 2009 Mochtar Muhammad (called "MM" among Bekasi-ers), Mayor of Bekasi (city) received an award from Ministry of Man Power and Transmigration for his role in encouraging people to work, with his famous slogan "Pokoknya Harus Kerja" (PHK, must work anyway) which diverts the original meaning of the abbreviation PHK-Pemutusan Hubungan Kerja (termination of employment).
Some people might wonder why such an award is given to a mayor of a city in which unemployment rate is still high by national standard. But for other, it is not strange since MM is "flamboyant" mayor, who always tries to make his bosses happy, without taking care much about his own people. Last year, instead of standing as leader in Independent Day commemoration in the city (as normally should be), he chose to stand by the side of Megawati Soekarnoputri for the same programe, in her private luxury mansion in jalan Diponegoro, Jakarta!
Anyone passes by irrigation river from Ruko Kalimas or East toll (Tol Timur) will find on his right, before reaching the end of the street(before traffic light) Carrefour building, standing elegantly on a vast land formerly allocated to boy-scout movement (Gerakan Pramuka) for camping ground called Karang Kitri. Without any further consideration, since 3 years ago, city administration moved the camping ground to other area, located exactly next to Bekasi stadion. With the size almost one percent of previous location, this area is popular among night-walkers as a "rendez-vous" venue for prostitutes and homosexuals in the night, in searching for their customers. MM ruthlessly forces his city children to mix up with those hookers and gays, while he himself sits lavishly in his luxury office across road. What a shame!
Among teachers and educators in Bekasi, MM's reputation is not better than any other corrupt leader. Last semester, when his son passed junior high school, he found that his son passing grade is not more than 7,5 in average. Knowing that his son unqualified for enrollement in Senior High School Bekasi (SMA)1 he ask the headmaster to lower the enrollment minimum grade standard from 8 to 7,5 so that his son is considered eligible for such enrollment. The result was what can be predicted by anyone; his son was the only one who is enrolled in SMA I with 7,5 mark average, while other students can only be accepted with average mark 8 and above. By this practice, MM has corrupted not only his administration, but also the future of his city children. No one can be blamed, other than him, if one day Bekasi city will consist of more mafias and other notorious groups!
Many street users in Bekasi complain about poor conditions of roads and streets in the city. The condition is worsened in rainy seasons when holes in the streets filled by water coming from overflowing canal. This sanitation mismanagement keeps Bekasi under constant flood threat, when water start overflow due to contiuous rain fall. When it occurs, at least 3 housing areas turn into swamp and 2 schools close, because the water level already reach man's ankle. While there are many malls and shopping complex built -some other waiting for permits- city dwellers should be more patient for calamities to come in the near future, for their appeals for betterment in roads and water drainage system never received the mayor's attention.
Last but not least, among religious group (Islam) there are people who doubt MM's commitment toward Islam. MM, who won mayoral election last year due to his boasting promises to make Bekasi city as "Islamic city with modern features" and due to his close relationship to pupils of the late KH. Noer Ali, an Islamic scholar who was involved in physical struggle against Ducth colonialist and first regent who moved capital of Bekasi Regency from Jatinegara (now belong to East Jakarta area) to its present day city. As a mayor in muslim dominated city, MM seems reluctant to fulfill his campaign promises, and turns to be more secular in his policies. There are cases where churces launch programs consist of evangelization (christianization) under the disguise of distribution of basic needs (popular as sembako, 9 basic needs)in highly muslim populated (but economically marginalized) housing areas. Although city administration know from the very beginning that this program is a misleading agenda and may cause potential chaos (even riot) among people, no substantial measure is taken to prevent it. Having known that Indonesian government is the 5th most corrupt administration in the world, one might question how much the city administration are paid by the priests to smooth the program.
This writing does not come, either from any of his former rivals in last allegedly-vote-rigged mayoral election, or from any political groups that might have contradicting interest with MM and want to undermine him. This article is purely written by Bekasi people who feel uneasy with the development of his own town led by a Makassar migrant named "MM".
Allah knows the best.
Some people might wonder why such an award is given to a mayor of a city in which unemployment rate is still high by national standard. But for other, it is not strange since MM is "flamboyant" mayor, who always tries to make his bosses happy, without taking care much about his own people. Last year, instead of standing as leader in Independent Day commemoration in the city (as normally should be), he chose to stand by the side of Megawati Soekarnoputri for the same programe, in her private luxury mansion in jalan Diponegoro, Jakarta!
Anyone passes by irrigation river from Ruko Kalimas or East toll (Tol Timur) will find on his right, before reaching the end of the street(before traffic light) Carrefour building, standing elegantly on a vast land formerly allocated to boy-scout movement (Gerakan Pramuka) for camping ground called Karang Kitri. Without any further consideration, since 3 years ago, city administration moved the camping ground to other area, located exactly next to Bekasi stadion. With the size almost one percent of previous location, this area is popular among night-walkers as a "rendez-vous" venue for prostitutes and homosexuals in the night, in searching for their customers. MM ruthlessly forces his city children to mix up with those hookers and gays, while he himself sits lavishly in his luxury office across road. What a shame!
Among teachers and educators in Bekasi, MM's reputation is not better than any other corrupt leader. Last semester, when his son passed junior high school, he found that his son passing grade is not more than 7,5 in average. Knowing that his son unqualified for enrollement in Senior High School Bekasi (SMA)1 he ask the headmaster to lower the enrollment minimum grade standard from 8 to 7,5 so that his son is considered eligible for such enrollment. The result was what can be predicted by anyone; his son was the only one who is enrolled in SMA I with 7,5 mark average, while other students can only be accepted with average mark 8 and above. By this practice, MM has corrupted not only his administration, but also the future of his city children. No one can be blamed, other than him, if one day Bekasi city will consist of more mafias and other notorious groups!
Many street users in Bekasi complain about poor conditions of roads and streets in the city. The condition is worsened in rainy seasons when holes in the streets filled by water coming from overflowing canal. This sanitation mismanagement keeps Bekasi under constant flood threat, when water start overflow due to contiuous rain fall. When it occurs, at least 3 housing areas turn into swamp and 2 schools close, because the water level already reach man's ankle. While there are many malls and shopping complex built -some other waiting for permits- city dwellers should be more patient for calamities to come in the near future, for their appeals for betterment in roads and water drainage system never received the mayor's attention.
Last but not least, among religious group (Islam) there are people who doubt MM's commitment toward Islam. MM, who won mayoral election last year due to his boasting promises to make Bekasi city as "Islamic city with modern features" and due to his close relationship to pupils of the late KH. Noer Ali, an Islamic scholar who was involved in physical struggle against Ducth colonialist and first regent who moved capital of Bekasi Regency from Jatinegara (now belong to East Jakarta area) to its present day city. As a mayor in muslim dominated city, MM seems reluctant to fulfill his campaign promises, and turns to be more secular in his policies. There are cases where churces launch programs consist of evangelization (christianization) under the disguise of distribution of basic needs (popular as sembako, 9 basic needs)in highly muslim populated (but economically marginalized) housing areas. Although city administration know from the very beginning that this program is a misleading agenda and may cause potential chaos (even riot) among people, no substantial measure is taken to prevent it. Having known that Indonesian government is the 5th most corrupt administration in the world, one might question how much the city administration are paid by the priests to smooth the program.
This writing does not come, either from any of his former rivals in last allegedly-vote-rigged mayoral election, or from any political groups that might have contradicting interest with MM and want to undermine him. This article is purely written by Bekasi people who feel uneasy with the development of his own town led by a Makassar migrant named "MM".
Allah knows the best.
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