Govt urged to help hasten renovation of markets

Govt urged to help hasten renovation of markets

JAKARTA (JP): The central government was urged on Monday to
speed up the disbursement of Rp 68 billion (US$7 million) it
pledged for the renovation of five traditional markets damaged
and burned during the May riots in the capital.

Djafar Badjeber, head of the city council's Commission B for
economic affairs, said that not a single penny of the pledge had
been allocated, even though many traders badly needed the
facilities to enable them to continue their business activities.

"The failure to disburse the funds is caused mainly by the
many requirements issued by the Ministry of Finance, which
demands among other things the city administration's guarantee to
give 5 percent of its fuel oil tax receipts to the central
government," Djafar said.

"It's a kind of discriminative policy toward the traders at a
time when the government can easily grant big loans to wealthy
businesspeople," he said.

Five traditional markets run by the city-owned market
management company PD Pasar Jaya were either partly or totally
burned in the riots, which led to the destruction of many
buildings and the deaths of more than 1,200 people.

The five were Palmerah market in Central Jakarta; Perniagaan
and Glodok markets in West Jakarta; and Cipete and Pasar Minggu
markets in South Jakarta.

Cempaka Putih market, the other market burned during the
riots, has already been renovated.

Djafar, quoting data from Pasar Jaya, said that the cost to
renovate Palmerah market was estimated at Rp 13 billion, Pasar
Minggu market Rp 9 billion, Perniagaan market Rp 2.6 billion,
Glodok market Rp 27 billion and Cipete Rp 9 billion.

He also said that Pasar Jaya should meet Palmerah traders'
demand for lower costs.

Based on a recommendation from the Ministry of Public Works,
Pasar Jaya set the renovation costs for a square meter of the
Palmerah market at Rp 3.5 million, but the traders only managed
to pay between Rp 1.5 million and Rp 2.5 million.

"Regardless of the reasons, the authorities should renovate
the markets as soon as possible as the small-scale traders badly
need them.

"I also urge Pasar Jaya not to take any profit from the market
renovation," he said.

Pasar Jaya has promised that the renovations of the burned
markets will be completed by the end of this year. "But that is
impossible now due to the limited time left," he said. (ind)