Authorities finish Kemang probe<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The administration has completed an
\ninvestigation into officials who have violated building permit
\nregulations in Kemang, South Jakarta, and will soon punish the
\nguilty ones.<\/p>\n
However, the municipality will not reveal the identities of
\nthe guilty officials, Governor Surjadi Soedirdja said yesterday.<\/p>\n
\"There's no need (to reveal the names),\" he told reporters at
\nCity Hall.<\/p>\n
The most important thing was to show consistency in
\nimplementing the city's spatial plan, he said.<\/p>\n
\"It should be understood by both the public and officials that
\nthe city administration is determined to uphold the designated
\nuse of land as stipulated in the spatial plan,\" Surjadi said.<\/p>\n
The controversy surrounding Kemang was sparked after Surjadi
\nissued an instruction dated March 18 that all building permits in
\nthe area, which is dominated by cafes, restaurants, furniture
\nshops, beauty parlors, clinics and duty free shops, were to be
\nchecked.<\/p>\n
According to city regulations, only 15 percent of buildings in
\nthe area are allowed to be nonresidential.<\/p>\n
But the administration data shows that 90 percent of Kemang's
\nbuildings are no longer residential. Many businesses operate with
\nhousing permits instead of commercial ones.<\/p>\n
The governor took the blame for the change of designated use
\nof land saying that it was caused by \"much abuse of temporary
\npermits\" by city agencies and as a result of poor supervision.<\/p>\n
The March instruction said no new permits would be issued
\nuntil everything was in order. Since then 18 establishments,
\nincluding cafes, restaurants and furniture shops, have been
\nclosed.<\/p>\n
Regulations stipulate that businesses need permits from the
\ncity's tourism agency, the public order office, the development
\nsupervision agency and the local mayoralty office.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, Deputy Governor of Administrative Affairs Idroes
\nsaid that the punishment of the officials was meant to
\ndemonstrate the municipality's consistency in upholding city
\nregulations.<\/p>\n
\"The city is not only striving to put all buildings in Kemang
\nback in order, but also punish officials who caused the
\ndisorder,\" Idroes said.<\/p>\n
The terms of the punishment, he said, would depend on the
\nextend of the officials' involvement.<\/p>\n
\"Just wait for further progress,\" Idroes said.<\/p>\n
Councilor Saud Rachman of the United Development Party (PPP)
\nsupported the city's action.<\/p>\n
\"Action against undisciplined officials is necessary to avoid
\nthe perception that the public is always to blame in cases
\ninvolving the abuse of permits,\" said Saud, a member of the
\nCouncil's Commission D for development affairs.<\/p>\n
He also urged the municipality to announce the names of
\nestablishments which have illegally run their businesses using
\nhousing permits.<\/p>\n
The administration is planning to move some Kemang businesses
\nto Kota in West Jakarta as part of its plan to help revitalize
\nKota and to centralize tourism activities there. (ste)<\/p>",
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