Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Councilors deny parking firm's claim

Councilors deny parking firm's claim

JAKARTA (JP): Two city councilors yesterday denied giving the
green light to PT Ikabina Karya Sukses for its parking system
involving prizes.

Helmy AR Syihab, chairman of the City Council's Commission C
in charge of financial affairs, and Bandjar Marpaung, chairman of
Commission D overseeing development affairs, denied they had
supported the proposal.

"I never supported the proposal," Bandjar insisted yesterday.

"I never told the company that I agree with the prize-parking
system," Helmy stipulated.

The management of the company, however, said at a press
conference last week that the two councilors had backed the
proposal.

PT Ikabina Karya Sukses wants to run a parking system based on
prizes in Jakarta.

The new system has triggered controversy, with city councilors
and the Minister of Social Services Inten Soeweno saying that it
would be a lottery like the banned SDSB.

Helmy said the city administration must study the
psychological impact of the prize for parking system on Jakartans
before approving the plan.

"Because the tickets will be sold everywhere, there is a
possibility they will have a negative impact," Helmy asserted.

He added that to increase revenue, the city administration
should modify the management of the city parking authority, Bp
Pakir, and improve the living standard of parking attendants
instead of implementing the lottery.

"Parking attendants will work harder if they have a sense of
belonging," Helmy explained.

City officials are considering asking the private sector to
help manage parking facilities because the city's agency has
allegedly misappropriated funds.

The municipality wanted to earn Rp 14.6 billion from parking
in the 1994/1995 fiscal year, ending on March 31. By last
December, BP Parkir had only managed Rp 9 billion. In 1993/1994,
BP Parkir collected Rp 9 billion, well below the Rp 11.6 billion
target.

The management of the private company claimed that their
parking system would contribute Rp 25.9 billion to the city
administration every year. (yns)

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