Councillors in conflict over parking operators
Councillors in conflict over parking operators
JAKARTA (JP): City councillors have recently been busy with attempts to pave the way for private parking operators to manage the city's off-street parking.
City spokesman Muhayat said on Tuesday that he had heard that certain factions at City Council favored certain parking operators, but refused to mention further details.
Even though parking generates large revenues, the City's Parking Body (BP Parkir) has suffered losses. Thus, the city administration has decided to hand over parking management to the private sector.
The parking body only contributed Rp 1.2 billion in revenue last year and has suffered average losses of Rp 4.5 billion over the previous two years.
Four firms have joined the selection to take over parking management with the highest offer made by PT Adiwira Sembada, who pledged to contribute Rp 12 billion in their first year of cooperation.
Governor Sutiyoso decided on May 14 to appoint PT Adiwira based on the evaluation of a technology and management study conducted by the University of Indonesia. The firm is the best among four firms that have been nominated for selection.
The remaining three companies: PT Mega Masagena Nusantara, PT Rodial Indonesia, PT Sumber Batu, according to the evaluation, ranked second, third and fourth respectively.
On March 7, the city council recommended that the city appoint the two best companies to manage parking.
It suggested that PT Adiwira manage the parking in Central and South Jakarta, while Mega Masagena Nusantara could run parking in West, North and East Jakarta.
The recommendation was signed by City Council chairman Edy Waluyo from the Indonesian Military/Police faction.
However, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle PDI Perjuangan's faction at the council held a media conference at Satay House cafe on Jl. Kebon Sirih, Central Jakarta on March 29 to oppose Waluyo's suggestion. They said that it would be best for the government to only appoint PT Adiwira.
But the faction chairman, Audi I.Z. Tambunan, denied the allegation that the faction had backed the party, saying that it had referred to the university study.
On June 12, the council sent a letter to Sutiyoso, demanding the governor annul his decision to appoint PT Adiwira as the only private parking operator to manage parking in the city. The council asked Sutiyoso to consider the council's recommendation.
On Monday, PDI Perjuangan's faction sent a letter to the council chairman, backing the governor's decision to appoint PT Adiwira.
A reliable source said that certain councillors of PDI Perjuangan backed PT Adiwira.
City Council deputy chairman Djafar Badjeberm, who is also chairman of the United Development Party's (PPP) city chapter, backed PT Masagena Nusantara.
Two councillors, Posman Siahaan of the Unity and Justice Party and M. Syamsuardi Botan, from the National Mandate Party claimed that the council never conducted any meeting to issue recommendations on parking matters.
"We've never been invited to discuss the recommendations. If the parking matter could not be settled, the administration should re-tender the parking management," Posman told reporters.
City administration announced on Tuesday it would not change the appointment of a private parking operator to manage the city's off-street parking despite the council's demand to include another company.
City Spokesman Muhayat said the decision to appoint PT Adiwira Sembada would not be changed as it had been stipulated in a gubernatorial decree.
"It's a final decision and cannot be changed," Muhayat told reporters at City Hall.(jun)