Smartcitymakassar.com. --Makassar- Like other metropolis
cities in Indonesia, Makassar grows with its complexities. What unique is that most cities in Indonesia
grow with almost the same pattern, which has on the appearance of Jakarta with
its already full of problems.
Congestion, criminals, and slum areas have been appearing and are
competing with modern facilities, which are built without ecological balance considerations.
Makassar is, however, still
Makassar. A city with has long history,
and a city that always fascinates great number of peoples. As a popular economic and cultural hubs many
new entrants have been trying their fortunes or starting their life in
Makassar. Some do trade, make investment
or pursue the study to higher level. In
short, since long time ago Makassar has been well known for its aura, not only
from peoples around or within eastern part of Indonesia, but also from
worldwide.
As one of the important
cities in Indonesia, Makassar should not be given leave to grow without
strategy. Otherwise, Makassar cannot
nurture its people efficiently.
Unfortunately, from experiences when travelling to some cities in
Indonesia, the writer found out that they grew “without control”. Master plan of the city, as the general
shared- basis and guide, is not given appropriate place for playing its
role. The bad thing from this situation
is that the master plan, which should be as a kind of government control by
public, belongs only to specific parties.
It is reasonable then that the rhythm of modernity is manifested into
wide spread of modern facilities developments.
Truly, these facilities can never accommodate all parties’ interests at
the same time.
The emerging and growing
office buildings, housings, and malls and condominiums have underlined
indication, that city is called rapidly growing city if it has on the
appearance of Jakarta. Of course it is a
disadvantage, since Jakarta has been growing as inefficient city with full of
problems and can not provide friendly environment to its locals. Some problems Jakarta faced such as flood, long
traffic congestion and waste are also those seen in Makassar and call for great
attention.
One example, the collapsed
road around Losari Beach area last 2012 ago is only the small part of burdens
the old Makassar faced from the continuing physical developments progress. Unfortunately, this experience seems come to
an end without significant introspective efforts. The mayor’s great idea to manage the city
waste problem, for example, by exchanging waste with rice that is brilliant,
should be put questions to and should be examined mindfully and carefully. How is the concept? Are infrastructures already well
prepared? Have the citizens been
informed and educated about this program?
When the answers are negatives, this idea may be just as an obligation that
is hard to pay since it is never calculated by realistic way.
City Marketing
Makassar’s potentials
should be managed by collaborative approach involving all stakeholders. This approach or strategy requires wide
participations from key actors such as business, public, university, and
credible research institution to name a few.
The participations should not be dominated either by governments or by politicians. Kotler et. al. (2002) stressed that the city
competitiveness should be a strategy-based, namely “designing a place to
satisfy the needs of its target markets.
It succeeds when citizens and businesses are pleased with their
community, and the expectations of visitors and investors are met”. The spirit of this strategy is to develop the
city competitiveness centered on needs and efficiency. For that purpose, all elements or stakeholders
should be encouraged to participate and understand that the city belongs to
them and at the same time their responsibilities.
Through synergy, the city
will be more humane. This will bring coexistence
in creating opportunities, improving economic growth so that the city’s
competitiveness will increase, and in creating welfare opportunities to all. Cities in Europe seem always beautiful
because of the harmony. The harmony that
always advances long-term strategy, as in Norwich-Norfolk city that is located in
eastern of England, for example.
Norwich-Norfolk improved its competitive advantages without natural
resources exports. On the contrary, by
securing the public safety, protecting its quality of the environment, and
preserving its cultural heritage, this city grew as one of the best places in
Europe for life quality and comfort activity.
Modern building developments and middle-age architecture buildings are
in harmony. The traditional and modern
markets are located side by side, and are part of tourism icon. Streets singers are always expected to sing
since they entertain and fascinate the public.
While most part of the
world complained about climate change, Norwich-Norfolk has been pioneering
sustainable research on this issue. The
government has allocated big amount of fund to this issue – not only spending the
city budget for unclear programs as we often do—so that it attracted worldwide
experts to come and participate to the research. At the moment, almost 50% of climate change
experts in UK are doing researches at the University of East Anglia (UEA) and
at Norwich Research Park (NRP), in Norwich.
To put it briefly, the government, businesses, universities and publics
are working together to support the city’s program so that the city grows with
its strong identity.
Proactive and long-term
vision is an expression of the city integrity.
Through leaders’ planning and commitments, many small cities, that are
once ignored, developed by their own means or ways. They created their own specific and unique
existences. However, by these existences
not only do the citizens, but also does the world view these cities
meaningfully.
The above-mentioned
perspective should be deep rooted at the heart of all government officials of
the beloved Makassar. It is a
perspective, not empty words. The city
competitiveness is not defined by the number of the natural resources the city
has as well as the physical buildings located everywhere, but is defined on the
creativity of the actors to be able to work in synergy. To this context, Kotler (1993) stressed that
“a place’s potential depends not so much on a place’s location, climate, and
natural resources ..”. The main point
here therefore is that strong will and creativity from the all actors will
define the identity of Makassar, today or tomorrow.
Andi M. Sadat
Research interest on
management, live in Jakarta.
