Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08SURABAYA56
2008-05-05 10:22:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Surabaya
Cable title:  

JAWA POS AWARDS INNOVATION IN PUBLIC SERVICE ACROSS EAST

Tags:  PGOV EAID ECON ID 
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ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 051022Z MAY 08
FM AMCONSUL SURABAYA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0208
RUEHJA/AMEMBASSY JAKARTA 0194
INFO RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0109
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEHJS/AMCONSUL SURABAYA 0213
RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 0107
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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV EAID ECON ID
SUBJECT: JAWA POS AWARDS INNOVATION IN PUBLIC SERVICE ACROSS EAST
JAVA

REF: 07 SURABAYA 89 (VOTERS IGNORE ENDORSEMENTS; POLITICIANS IGNORE PERFORMANCE RANKINGS)

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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SURABAYA 000056

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DEPT FOR EAP/MTS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV EAID ECON ID
SUBJECT: JAWA POS AWARDS INNOVATION IN PUBLIC SERVICE ACROSS EAST
JAVA

REF: 07 SURABAYA 89 (VOTERS IGNORE ENDORSEMENTS; POLITICIANS IGNORE PERFORMANCE RANKINGS)

SURABAYA 00000056 001.2 OF 002


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1. (SBU) Summary: Media giant Jawa Pos Group's Pro Otonomi
Institute (JPIP) presented its annual awards April 30 to
regencies and cities throughout East Java which demonstrated
innovation across public service sectors. Perennial winners
Lamongan and Sidoarjo, famous for employing business techniques
in government programs, were shut out of this year's awards.
This year's winners represented a new breed of "entrepreneur
regents," politicians who learned from their business
counterparts how to innovate and produce results. JPIP noted
that winning regents were joined by "entrepreneur bureaucrats,"
local government officials who were emerging as influential
agents of change. While JPIP's rankings have proven to be
reliable indicators of electoral success in the past, public
service innovations did not translate into voter loyalty in one
winning regency. A list of winners follows. End Summary.

Gala Event to Present Awards
--------------


2. (SBU) At an April 30 gala event, attended by Vice President
Yusuf Kalla and East Java Governor Imam Utomo, Jawa Pos Group's
Pro Otonomi Institute (JPIP) presented its annual awards to
regencies and cities throughout East Java. The event was
broadcast live on JTV. In its annual survey, JPIP compares the
public service programs of 38 East Java regencies and cities and
ranks them according to an intricate formula on innovation,
impact, and results across ten categories. In its award
ceremony, JPIP recognizes the most innovative programs in all
ten categories and two special categories (poverty reduction and
environmental management). Three grand prize awards are given
for breakthroughs in economic development, public service, and
political performance. Since its inception seven years ago,
JPIP's awards have sparked intense competition between regencies
and served as indicators of public satisfaction.

Encouraging Innovation and Regional Autonomy
-------------- --------------


3. (SBU) Jawa Pos CEO Dahlan Iskan explained that the objective
of JPIP's research is to encourage innovation in government
sectors. By highlighting the effectiveness of innovation and
local government initiative, JPIP hopes to encourage greater
public participation in political life. JPIP's emphasis on
regency-level programs is also designed to shift the mindset of
local residents away from dependence on Jakarta and toward local
governments to address local priorities. JPIP intends to expand
its work beyond East Java with similar rankings and awards in
Central Java, South Sulawesi, and East Kalimantan.

Expected Winners Shut Out
--------------


4. (SBU) The 2008 awards surprised many observers, who
anticipated another round of victories for the regents of
Lamongan and Sidoarjo. Lamongan was nominated in eight
categories, but failed to bring home one trophy. Sidoarjo,
perhaps battered by perceptions that the regency had failed to
address sufficiently the impact of the mudflow on local
residents and businesses, was nominated in just one category.
Maksum (one name only),Director of JPIP, explained to ConGen
Surabaya that while the regents of Lamongan and Sidoarjo
maintained their high level of public service programs, they had
become "stagnant." Other regencies, learning from Lamongan's
and Sidoarjo's example, had stepped up their game and achieved
significant breakthroughs over the past year.


5. (SBU) Maksum added that previous winners had been regents who
brought business backgrounds and principles to government
service. This year's winning regents are politicians who have
business mindsets -- "entrepreneur regents." These politicians
learned from their businessmen colleagues and adopted many of
the same techniques. JPIP sees significant progress across the
political spectrum, as more regents look to innovative business
solutions to make public service programs successful. JPIP
added that winning regents were supported by "entrepreneur
bureaucrats" -- heads of local government offices who have
become critical agents for change.

Winning Doesn't Mean Reelection
--------------


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6. (SBU) If winning or high JPIP rankings translated into
electoral success, the victories by Pamekasan Regency for
"Breakthroughs in Public Service" were the most unexpected of
the evening. Achmad Syafii, the regent who created the winning
program in education and two additional programs nominated for
other awards, had been defeated in a March 2008 regency
election. Maksum suggested that Pamekasan voters (as with many
voters on the conservative island of Madura) were guided by
their religious leaders to reject Achmad Syafii in favor of Kiai
Kholilurahman, chairman of the Pamekasan NU. He surmised that,
unlike voters in mainland East Java who have ignored
endorsements by religious and party leaders to reject poor
performers (reftel),Madurese voters would follow the guidance
of their clerics before other considerations. A Pamekasan NGO
representative added that Achmad Syafii's innovative programs
may have been overshadowed by a lack of transparency and failure
to lobby the grassroots successfully.

The Winners
--------------


7. (U) On May 5, Jawa Pos launched a series of articles
highlighting the innovative programs which won JPIP's 2008 Pro
Otonomi Awards. Post will continue to monitor the long-term
impact of these programs.

Grand Prize: Breakthrough in Economic Development -- Ponorogo
Regency
A program to aggressively develop small and medium sized
enterprises, which created 16,000 new entrepreneurs in sectors
ranging from agriculture to trading. Ponorogo also instituted a
mass land certificate program which allowed SMEs to use their
land certificates as bank collateral.

Innovative Breakthrough in Economic Growth -- Ponorogo Regency
Innovative Breakthrough in Economic Distribution -- Magetan
Regency
Capital assistance to women in the informal business sector
Innovative Breakthrough in Empowering the Local Economy --
Blitar City
Protects SME and retail businesses by limiting development and
construction of large shopping malls

Grand Prize: Breakthrough in Public Service -- Pamekasan Regency
A program to establish a transparent student examination system
and a science education center. Approximately 120 students
participated in the center, which is credited with helping
Pamekasan students win awards at the Science Olympiad in 2007.

Innovative Breakthrough in Health Services -- Pasuruan Regency
Provides home care and health services
Innovative Breakthrough in Education Services -- Pamekasan
Regency
Innovative Breakthrough in Administrative Services -- Malang City
Launched reforms in permitting and licensing department
Innovative Breakthrough in Providing Public Facilities --
Tulungagung Regency
Provides clean water facilities

Grand Prize: Breakthrough in Political Performance -- Lumajang
Regency
A program to increase public participation in regency's micro
credit program and integrated healthcare system (targeting
maternal and child healthcare)

Innovative Breakthrough in Public Accountability -- Jombang
Regency
Conducted public survey
Innovative Breakthrough in Public Participation -- Lumajang
Regency
Innovative Breakthrough in Political Institutions -- Batu City
Succeeded in strengthening democratic systems at the village
level

Special categories:
Poverty Reduction -- Jember Regency
Succeeded with its integrated poverty reduction program
Environmental Management -- Surabaya City
Succeeded with garbage management and extension of green areas
MCCLELLAND