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)