Most private parking firms ignore the official rate
JAKARTA (JP): Despite the recent ruling that parking fees must be adjusted in line with the official rates set by the city administration, some private parking operators still charged higher fees on Wednesday.
Head of City Parking Agency Yani Mulyadi and other city officials observed the operators' noncompliance during an inspection to monitor the implementation of the 1999 Gubernatorial Decree No. 1698 on off-street parking fees.
"I can't charge lower parking fees now because there are no instructions from my superior, yet. Besides, the Indonesian Association of Shopping Complex Management (APPBI) has yet to make any decision on it," site manager Mahdi of Plaza Senayan's Secure Parking lots in Central Jakarta told Yani.
Instead of charging Rp 1,000 (13 US cents) for the first hour as stipulated by the decree, Plaza Senayan charges Rp 2,000 per hour.
City officials posted the notice on new parking fees on the Plaza's parking booths to announce the lower parking fees as stipulated in the gubernatorial decree. They insisted on placing the announcement despite objections from the parking management.
Yani also received excuses when he inspected Hilton International Hotel parking lots in Central Jakarta, also managed by Secure Parking. The hotel charges Rp 2,000 for the first two hours, and Rp 1,000 for each additional hour.
"We have filed our complaints with the city administration over the lower parking fee. Therefore, we can't charge the lower fee now," parking coordinator Firdaus of Hilton Hotel's Secure Parking said.
"Besides, we are waiting for orders from the association as we cannot make our own decision," he added.
Firdaus questioned Yani's authority to post the announcement on parking fee adjustment.
"Can I see your warrant ?" he asked.
"I don't need any warrant because I received a direct order from the governor as head of City Parking Agency. There's my name on the announcement and you can contact me at my office if you have any complaints," Yani, an Army colonel, plainly told Firdaus.
City spokesman Muhayat admitted that Secure Parking wasn't willing to charge lower fees.
"If you don't want to pay the parking fee, don't park here," Muhayat quoted the company as saying when asked to apply the lower fee at a meeting at City Hall on Tuesday evening to publicize the 1999 decree.
"However, other operators, such as Dharmala Group, are willing to do so, saying it won't cause them any losses," he added.
City administration required all parking lots to comply with the 1999 decree and register their business before June 1.
Earlier in the day, the officials also checked the parking fees at Landmark Building's parking lots in Central Jakarta.
Most drivers welcomed the decision to lower the parking fees, which were considered as too expensive.
"It's a burden for those who are working here if they have to pay Rp 2,000 per hour because we sometimes work 10 to 12 hours a day," Dandossi Matram, a senior executive at Bakrie Finance, told reporters at Landmark parking lots.
"Not all employees receive free pass cards as the operator only provides two or three cards per building tenant," he added.
A driver at Plaza Senayan, Nanang of Bank CIC said the new fee would ease his parking burden because he had to go to the bank's headquarters there several times a week.
"It will be a relief but they still charge me Rp 2,000 per hour," he said after arguing with a booth keeper.
Other drivers also argued with the attendants upon noticing the announcement placed by city officials.
It has been frequently alleged that Hilton's parking management takes advantage of acute traffic jams on the Semanggi bridge when police close the Sudirman access. Then all vehicles wanting to avoid a circuitous route by transiting Hilton's premises must pay the Rp 2,000 parking fee.
It has been alleged also that traffic police at the bridge deliberately direct the traffic to pass Hilton Hotel's premises. The allegations, however, have been repeatedly denied by both city police and Hilton's management. (nvn)