Governor takes blame for permit abuse in Kemang
Governor takes blame for permit abuse in Kemang
JAKARTA (JP): The irresponsibility of city officials has led
to cafes and restaurants in Kemang being operated with housing
permits, Governor Surjadi Soedirdja said.
He said yesterday the city was starting to put building
permits in order, but assured the public that existing
establishments would be allowed to operate until their permits
expired.
"But the buildings should be returned to their originally
permitted function when the permits expire," Surjadi said.
He was questioned yesterday about his instruction to
temporarily halt new buildings in Kemang, in an attempt to return
the area to a predominantly residential site.
The "overcrowding" in Kemang was caused by "much abuse of
temporary permits," he said after installing new officials.
It was the city's fault, he said. Its poor supervision of the
relevant agencies and lack of responsibility caused the "chaos".
"So we will start putting permits in order ... and I hope the
public will understand," he said, adding it applied to all areas.
South Jakarta mayor Pardjoko said Monday that because of
Surjadi's 'status quo' instruction of March 18, a team would
check all permits issued for non-residential buildings along Jl.
Kemang Raya.
Ninety percent of Kemang's buildings were no longer homes
although it was designated a residential site, he said.
In residential areas only 15 percent of the buildings are
allowed to be non-residential, he said.
Surjadi explained that some agencies were authorized to issue
temporary permits in the governor's name, "an authority which
should not be abused."
Such authority should cover spatial plans. Even if housing
permits were temporary they should not be used to operate
restaurants, for instance, he said.
"Because when the restaurant attracts many customers and rakes
in profits, others want to be allowed to do the same ... and
we'll have the domino effect," he said.
Meanwhile restaurant executives in Kemang asked the city to
include cafes and restaurants into local spatial plans.
Ali Jusmono, a general manager of Chi-Chi's Mexican
Restaurant, said the South Jakarta mayoralty should adjust
existing plans because Kemang was already a popular "food
gallery".
Zulfico Effendi, a manager of Domino's Pizza in Kemang, said
the city should not stop construction plans as long as the cafes
and restaurants did not take up road space, or violate public
interest in any other way.
Earlier a public order official raised concerns that business
owners were turning green areas into parking lots, thus reducing
water catchment sites.
But Chi-chi's general manager said he had had no difficulty
securing permits.
The permits were renewed every year, and cafes and restaurants
keep popping up, Ali said.
"This month, I noticed two new restaurants, including a
Brazilian restaurant," Ali said.
Surjadi said that in Kemang, "residents no longer feel secure
because there are many drunks around".
But Ali said locals had not complained. Instead they
benefited from having businesses there.
"Many locals work in the cafes and restaurant. So it benefits
people," he said.
Kemang has more than 30 cafes and restaurants. Ali said the
restaurant business there was very profitable, because of its
strategic location.
The establishments contributed much to the city because both
Jakartans and tourists frequented the area, he said.
He said the city should consider the dozens of restaurant
owners there who have invested billions of rupiah.
Ali said he invested about Rp 2 billion in 1995 to build Chi-
chi's.
Zulfico said the cafes and restaurants provided food to
residents, mostly expatriates. (jun/11)