When I bought a house in the Bekasi area for my small family's residence, the question that I repeated to the sales was: "It's free from flooding, bro?" The answer was a bit ridiculous: "If it's flooded, Monas is already gone. ". I was a little worried, because at that time we had toddlers who would be left behind and stayed all day with only helpers. In 2002, rain continuously struck Jakarta. Apparently, the housing we live in is flood free. But ... there is but it is, the access road to the housing was cut off by floodwaters as high as the wheels of a car. My wife and our children experienced having to sail by car, even because our car was sedan, the water easily entered the cabin through the gaps in the door. Miraculously my wife managed to get our car out of the flood safely. Even had time to pick me up from the office. Before finally the car gave up because the dynamo was burning.
At that time, many of our families and friends experienced a much more tragic event. There were those whose houses were submerged up to 2 meters, the furniture was damaged, the car was submerged, until the evacuation experience was in the middle of a pitch black night. Fearing that such thing would repeat itself, we moved again to Bandung.
To be honest, I can't afford to live in an environment that is constantly flooded. Strangely, millions of people in Jakarta are willing, able, and willing to live in floods. Jakarta flooded? Ah, it's normal. That's the answer we often hear. One of my ex-drivers told me, if in his place of residence every rainy season would be flooded. I heard with a slightly uncomfortable story, "Why not move?" I asked. "Well how else sir ...".
It is common. Indeed this is Jakarta. How else. These sentences represent the thoughts of people who surrender to circumstances. Even though we all recognize the potential power of the mind. Who can save Jakarta from flooding if not Jakarta residents? When most Jakartans think that flooding is a tradition, then there is a flood. As a tradition!
Even though the flood is free. Other cities in the world can, so Jakarta must be able to. Let us not condemn the "5 year flood cycle", but be thankful that God still gives 5 years to clean up. It has been repeatedly hit by floods. And what has Jakarta done when the flood hasn't arrived? The people keep littering, and the government is wasting money on non-urgent infrastructure. Even though what is more important than freeing Jakarta from flooding? Busway can be delayed, making new buildings delayed, new sidewalks can be delayed. But freeing Jakarta from flooding must now.
I once delivered a colleague, a CEO of a software company from the UK who first came to Jakarta. We walked down Sudirman - Thamrin to the hotel where he was staying. At that time heavy rain fell. There were no floods, but there were enough puddles on the road. That too is enough to make his face look anxious. Can't stand it, he commented: "They should check the drainage system ..." I almost looked at "What drainage system?" Even someone who is first to Jakarta will know that the drainage system in Jakarta is not functioning. And strangely we don't take enough action to get it done.
Jakarta (and also Indonesia) needs leaders who can inspire that we can change if we want. If most Jakartans are convinced that Jakarta can be free from flooding, the next question, "how" will be easier to answer. People who are confident of being able to get answers are easier. New ideas that have not been thought of before will emerge. And God willing, the universe supports.
Flood this time, thank God I and my family now live in Bogor. I sympathize with the flood in Jakarta. Hopefully the flood victims in Jakarta are given fortitude, and hopefully all Jakartans are enlightened, that the flood can be free.