Mangga Dua traders confront City Council

Mangga Dua traders confront City Council

JAKARTA (JP): Traders of Mal Mangga Dua in West Jakarta
visited the City Council yesterday, complaining about the unfair
treatment of the shopping mall's management.

Four representatives of 150 traders told members of Commission
B for economic affairs that PT Duta Pertiwi recently hiked the
monthly management fees from Rp 5,000 (US$1.55) to Rp 12,000 per
square meter, plus a 4 percent government tax, without the
traders' knowledge.

One of the representatives, Herman, said the traders only
agreed to pay Rp 6,000 per square meter plus tax, which they said
was already paid to Duta Pertiwi on Nov. 1.

"We paid it through Bank Internasional Indonesia along with
the electricity bills," said Herman.

However, the management cut off the electricity to 50 tenants
at the mall on the same day, he said.

The unexpected situation compelled the remaining traders to
show their solidarity by turning off their own electricity, he
said.

The management "deployed" dozens of security officers "to
intimidate the 100 traders who blacked out their stalls," Herman
said.

He said the blackout lasted for five days until Nov. 5, which
had badly affected their earnings.

In response, member of the commission Tarman Azzam promised to
summon Duta Pertiwi executives for an explanation as soon as
possible.

"The developer should openly discuss with the traders if there
are any changes to be made," he said.

Mall executives could not be reached for comment yesterday,
but a source from the mall's management told The Jakarta Post
that they had never agreed with the traders to charge them only
Rp 6,000 per month.

The source, who refused to be identified, said the electricity
was cut because the traders could not meet the payment deadline.

"If tenants fail to pay for electricity on the 20th of every
month, the management automatically cuts their power at the end
of the month," she said.

On the involvement of security officers, she said: "It's for
the sake of security -- they are needed everywhere."

The mall, offering a wide range of textile and household items
and apparels, is one of the city's most popular shopping sights
for locals and foreigners. (ind)