Surabaya Regional People's Representative Council (DPRD) Chairman Syaifuddin Zuhri is pushing for long-term, solution-based city planning for comprehensive and sustainable solutions.
"Development must no longer be trapped in a patchwork pattern that only solves temporary problems without addressing the root causes," he said in Surabaya, East Java, on Friday.
According to the man familiarly known as Kaji Ipuk, the development of an ideal city must begin with the government's ability to map out problems comprehensively through thorough studies.
In this way, every program that emerges from the development planning deliberation (Musrenbang) truly addresses the needs of the community and has a long-term impact.
"Don't let a large budget be spent every year, but the same problems keep repeating themselves. If you only solve the symptoms without understanding the root of the problem, then development will never be finished," he said.
He gave the example of the flood problem which has been a concern for the government and the public for years.
According to him, flood management cannot be done solely through partial channel construction, but must be based on an integrated drainage planning system from the village, sub-district, district, and city levels.
"When it comes to flooding, there must be a clear drainage master plan . We need to know where the water flows from, where the obstructions are, and where it drains. We shouldn't build a channel in one location, only to end up shifting the problem to another area," he said.
According to him, the success of a development project isn't solely measured by the physical quality of the building or the size of the budget. Furthermore, the project must be able to provide maximum functionality and address environmental needs in a sustainable manner.
"It's no use having good building specifications and high-quality materials if the placement is inappropriate and doesn't solve the problem. What matters most is its benefit to the community," he said.
He commended the Surabaya City Government's efforts over the past few years, which have successfully reduced flooding through various drainage development and canal normalization programs. However, he believes this work must continue with a more systematic and integrated approach.
Beyond flooding, the Speaker of the Surabaya Regional People's Representative Council (DPRD) also highlighted the importance of equitable development across the city. He argued that development should not be concentrated in certain areas while other areas lag behind in terms of public facilities.
"Development must create a sense of justice. We must not allow certain areas to be continuously beautified while others lack the same basic facilities," he said.
