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)