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)