Councillors fight over airport
Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang
Tangerang regency has laid claim to the country's main gateway, Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, and the huge amount of revenue it generates, which is currently controlled by Tangerang municipality.
"Terminal II is geographically located closer to Kosambi, which is a district in Tangerang regency. This means the terminal is located in the regency's jurisdiction," Ozy Syahrozi, a member of the regency council's Commission A on administrative affairs, said on Monday.
Terminal II refers to Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, which is controlled by Tangerang municipality.
The municipality, which was established in 1992, receives over Rp 1 billion each year from parking fees, airport taxes and advertising taxes collected by airport operator PT Angkasa Pura II.
The municipality receives an additional Rp 350 million each year from the airport operator in community development funds.
Ozy said the Tangerang Regency Council had asked the National Land Agency and related agencies in the regency administration to make a comprehensive study of the airport's borders.
Barhum, a member of the regency council's Commission D on development, said his commission had met with the Tangerang Municipal Council to deliver its claim over the airport.
"The municipal council promised to deliver our claim to the municipal administration soon," he said, adding that his commission had scheduled talks with the municipal council next week to discuss the airport's borders.
Tangerang municipal administration spokesman Chaerudin said that since the municipality was formed in 1992 the airport had been an integral part of it.
"As far as I know, the airport's 1,800 hectares lie entirely in Tangerang municipality," he said.
Fauzan Manafi and Kholid Mansyur of municipal council Commission C on budgetary affairs, suggested the Tangerang regency was simply trying to get ahold of the huge amount of revenue the airport generates each year for the municipality.
"It is not surprising the regency council is envious of the municipality and wants to get a part of the airport's revenue," they said.
The councillors also said that of the numerous state enterprises (BUMNs) operating in the municipality, only PT Angkasa Pura regularly allocated funds for community development programs in the subdistricts surrounding the airport.
The funds are used to build houses of worship, orphanages and public bathrooms, and to repair damaged roads and replace old street lights.
Manafi said other BUMNs like Bank BNI 46, Bank Mandiri, PLN and PT Telkom should allocate funds for community development programs to help residents living near their branch offices in the municipality.
"We sent a memo to Mayor Wahidin Halim that the municipality deserves community development funds from these BUMNs," Manafi said.