Illegal Parking Attendants in Blok M Force Visitors to Pay Extra Despite Official Parking Availability

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Many people are still forced to pay double parking fees when visiting the Blok M area in South Jakarta. Kompas.com observations at the location on Thursday night (2/4/2026) showed several motorists approaching unofficial parking attendants and handing over Rp 1,000 or Rp 2,000 notes without being asked. There were also motorbike riders who gave parking money before the attendant helped move their bike to make it easier to exit. However, he also felt sorry because the attendant relied on this job for a living. “Actually, it’s quite disruptive, but what can you do? Maybe because there are few job opportunities, so the brother has to work here whether he likes it or not,” said Rafael to Kompas.com at the location on Thursday (2/4/2026). As a result, Rafael always pays extra parking money because he himself was unaware of the official parking areas in Blok M. Rafael and his friend, Athea (19), hope that relevant officials will conduct regular patrols to keep Blok M free from illegal parking attendants. They also believe there needs to be additional official parking land, given that the area is always crowded with visitors. “It’s not very effective. There should be periodic checks, at least. So don’t just give a statement letter,” said Athea. When trying to retrieve his motorbike independently, illegal parking attendants often suddenly “help” him. “Yeah, suddenly someone guides from behind. It’s awkward if you don’t give anything, so you just do it spontaneously,” explained Bima. Bima is aware of the existence of official parking.