SEAToday.com, Jakarta-Impromptu visits are considered a successful method to be close to the people, and it is used by politicians and officials to learn the problems the people face on a daily basis. However, not all visits are effective. Some are perceived as fakers for carrying out the visits.

Especially if they only carry out the visit once, but had the pictures circulating online for a long period of time. Questions rose, how should a proper impromptu visit be carried out? Thankfully, Indonesians have Ali Sadikin.

Jakarta is Nusantara's most important cities. On top of being the capital, Jakarta holds the long history of Indonesians' fight for independence.

Soekarno wanted a proper leader for Jakarta. The President kept meddling in the search of Jakarta's leader. Bung Karno looked for one among politicians, the military, and artists, but found no one.

He then resorted to Mayjen KKO Ali Sadikin.

"I choose Mayjen KKO, Ali Sadikin. Dus Ali Sadikin, just so you know, you're facing a lot of difficulties, especially because Jakarta, which is the capital of the republic, holds a special place in my heart. I am very thorough. I don't want to see litter. I don't want to see clogged sewers," said Bung Karno when inaugurating Ali Sadikin at the State Palace on APril 28, 1966, as cited from the book "Ali Sadikin: Menggusur dan Membangun" (1977).

Bang Ali Patrols Jakarta

Bung Karno's mandate was met with responsibility from Ali Sadikin. He learned to manage the city well. The main thing he did was to get to know what he was working with.

He tried to get to know his officers in the government. He admitted to finding human resources shortage in leading the great Jakarta. He then tried to manage it.

However, in creating policies, Bang Ali chose to carry out impromptu visits, sometimes accompanied by his aide, but never with a journalist's coverage.

He tried going around Jakarta on a bus, entering terminals and managing them, and visiting the villages to find out what the people are struggling with.

"I took a bus in Jakarta when it was raining, and I felt the discomfort of being pressed against one another in the bus. That's how I found out the problem with this city's public transportation. There were no system. The amount of fleet was inadequate," said Ali Sadikin, as written by Ramadhan K. H., in the book "Bang Ali: Demi Jakarta 1966-1977" (1992).

Ali's first six months in leading Jakarta was dedicated to carrying out impromptu visits. He faced the difficulties the people faced, resulting in him losing 6 kilograms. However, the visits helped him  understand Jakarta's complex problems.

He could also see how far the Jakarta government reached its public.

Bang Ali Asks Officers to Patrol Jakarta Together

Ali saw the visits as an effective method to create a public policy. Public transportation matters can't be solved by a leader who goes everywhere with a private driver.

Improper housing complex matters couldn't be solved by officers who live in a lavish housing complex everyday. Therefore, Ali Sadikin encouraged his officers to go with him on his impromptu visits.

They had to feel what the people of Jakarta felt. Their observation were then discussed in a meeting every Monday at 7 AM. Ali wouldn't tolerate those who were late to the meeting.

"The staffs were asked to see how the people were doing every Saturday and Sunday to be reported every Monday," said Ali Sadikin's former staff, Wardiman Djojonegoro, in the book "Sepanjang Jalan Kenangan" (2016).

The results of the visits helped Ali Sadikin to summarize the problems in Jakarta. Then, the government started improving Jakarta with a number of policies, including the M. H. Thamrin village project.

Although the funds needed for such improvements were large, Ali Sadikin didn't see it as a problem. He looked for funds in many things, including the controversial gambling.

Jakarta then improved. Many praised him, but there were also many that mocked him for building Jakarta with questionable funds. Ali didn't care, as he thought he had done what's right.