Carrefour debate like TV drama

JAKARTA (JP): A City Economy Development Bureau officer stated on Thursday that Carrefour Hypermarket has violated no regulation because the business has a legitimate license to operate as a retailer.

Head of the bureau's market unit, Retno Kumorowati, who claimed to have been in charge of issuing the permit to the French company, also asserted that the city administration has never issued regulations for the location of such a hypermarket or wholesaler.

"Any retail company can operate in the center of the capital, because there are no regulations delimiting locations for the business and Carrefour has a retail license.

There is no reason for city council to question it," Retno said.

City Council Commission B on Economic Affairs questioned the license of the giant hypermarket chain as their presence in strategic locations in the capital poses a major threat to small retailers.

The commission also questioned the new hypermarket outlet located on Indonesian Airforce land not zoned for retail purposes.

"It is true; the land is zoned for offices and not for retail business. However, Carrefour requested the City Planning Agency change the land usage to permit retail business before they occupied the land," Retno said.

"After surveying the area the city planning agency approved the proposal and expanded the land usage of the location," she added.

The commission will visit the new Carrefour outlet on Jl. M.T. Haryono in South Jakarta next Tuesday for further clarification about the matter.

Carrefour opened its first outlet in 1998 and now operates seven outlets, mostly in strategic locations in the capital.

As of Thursday none of the representatives of Carrefour were willing to give any clarification on the issue. (dja)