New sites proposed for Kemang businesses
New sites proposed for Kemang businesses
JAKARTA (JP): The municipality has recommended to
businesspeople operating illegally in Kemang that they relocate
to one of three sites in South Jakarta, an official said
yesterday.
South Jakarta Mayor Pardjoko told reporters the three sites
were Jl. Panglima Polim, Jl. Warung Buncit and Jl. Radio Dalam.
"Those areas, which have been legally altered into commercial
districts, could function as alternatives for businesspeople in
Kemang to relocate their businesses to," Pardjoko said.
According to the mayoralty's data, there are 248 businesses in
Kemang, of which only 68 have the proper permits. The other 180
businesses are classified as illegal because they do not have the
necessary permits and violate land use regulations.
Of the 180 illegal businesses, ranging from cafes and
restaurants to pet food shops, 22 have already been closed.
The South Jakarta Mayoralty has already sent letters to all
the owners of the businesses operation illegally, requesting they
stop operating. All of these businesses must be closed by the end
of this month, Pardjoko said.
"We urged the businesspeople to seal their commercial
businesses by themselves rather than being forcefully closed down
by public order officers."
Pardjoko said that to seal the cafes would not be an easy job
because it involved people's livelihoods.
The closures are expected to affect at least 4,000 employees.
"That's why I will be careful in implementing the sealing
process," he said.
The head of the city's manpower agency, R.H. Sudhartin, told
reporters that his agency had been studying the Kemang case and
was preparing a program to help the workers.
"I have discussed this matter with the mayor. The workers will
be listed by the municipality and will be given other, suitable,
jobs which match their skills," Sudhartin said.
"It is important for the businesspeople in Kemang to know that
the municipality is very serious in handling Kemang. We don't
want them to use the workers dismissal as an excuse to continue
operating in Kemang," he added.
The controversy over land use in Kemang was sparked by the
issuance of instructions dated March 18 that all building permits
in the area were to be checked.
According to city regulations, only 15 percent of buildings in
the area are allowed to be used for business purposes.
In practice, however, 90 percent of Kemang has been converted
into commercial sites. Many businesses operate with housing
permits instead of commercial licenses.
The March instructions said no new permits would be issued
until everything was in order.
Existing regulations stipulate that businesses need permits
from the city's tourism agency, the city's public order office,
the city's development supervision agency and the local mayoralty
office. (edt)