Kemang businesses react angrily to city's closure plan
JAKARTA (JP): The city's plan to close 180 businesses in Kemang for permit violations is "unfair" and should be reconsidered, according to those affected by the decision.
Local businesspeople said yesterday that they were "victims" and the city should be "more flexible" in its approach to land use in Kemang.
When interviewed by The Jakarta Post, they rejected the administration's claim that they had ignored complaints from religious leaders in Kemang.
The manager of Chi-Chi's Mexican Restaurant, Ali Jusmono, said he respected the administration's decision to implement the city plan but it should be applied evenly to all areas in Jakarta, not just Kemang.
In other parts of Jakarta the administration has been more amenable and rezoned housing areas for commercial purposes, he said.
"I hope that the city will be more flexible when it applies the city plan in Kemang."
Ali said that closing down businesses would make it difficult for the owners to repay their bank loans and force them to sack staff.
"The administration should consider how businesspeople can be responsible if they have bank loans. And for the employees, it's more difficult now to get a job."
The decision to close the 180 businesses -- not all of which are cafes, as reported earlier -- was announced Monday by Deputy Governor for Administrative Affairs Abdul Kahfi.
The decision affects bars, cafes, restaurants, galleries, travel agents, photocopy centers, pharmacies, beauty salons, car service centers, a cassette rental center, an optical shop and a gas station.
The director of Articia, which specializes in interior design, Atik Yunaeni, said businesspeople in Kemang were the "victims" of the decision.
She said some business, such as Articia, had been given commercial permits but were now being told it was invalid.
"Why were we given the permit (to do business) when the area is a residential site?
"If the city is to be consistent, many areas other than Kemang will have to be reverted to their original use under the city plan."
She said that if the administration enforced the closures, there should be a transition period.
"Don't enforce the policy immediately."
The supervisor of a nearby cafe, who wanted to remain anonymous, gave a similar response.
"Why make a fuss now when we are doing business and not when we applied for the permit."
He said the presence of businesses benefited locals through property rentals and employment.
"The negative impact of the closures will be felt not only by the owners of businesses."
The general manager of Galeri TC Kafe and Bar, Brenda Djorghi, said she could do nothing but wait and see if the decision is implemented.
"We hope the city administration will change its mind because our presence does benefit the administration," she said, "We pay lots of taxes for the cafe."
The supervisor of Coterie Restaurant, Freddy C. Kotambunan, said he also hoped the administration would reconsider the closures.
He said that many people working in Kemang relied on the restaurants for their meals.
"The closure will force them to travel much further afield for their meals."
Several businesspeople rejected Kahfi's statement that religious leaders had complained that the businesses were too close to centers of worship, interfered with religious activities and the businesses had ignored complaints.
Brenda Djorghi of Galeri TC said that if there had been protests from locals then the administration should not have granted social disturbance permits.
"No-one has protested," she said. "To run a business we have to get approval from the neighborhood."
Ali Jusmono of Chi-Chi's said that traffic congestion -- which Kahfi blamed on the businesses -- could be solved if businesspeople were encouraged to construct parking lots.
"This would enable green areas to be established in front of buildings where people currently park."
However, Freddy from Coterie and Brenda both denied that the businesses had created traffic congestion.
"The congestion is caused by the irregularity of the traffic system here. The T-junctions at the ends of the street are not managed well by the police," Brenda said. (ind)