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)