Outcry on parking upsets Surjadi

Outcry on parking upsets Surjadi

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Surjadi Soedirdja said yesterday he was
surprised by the enormous public outcry about the city's plan to
increase parking fees.

Speaking to reporters during a break in the governors' meeting
at the Ministry of Home Affairs, Surjadi said he had no idea why
the public had reacted so strongly.

"The administration has yet to issue the bill on new parking
fee regulations," he said.

"I am very concerned about those who wasted their energy
commenting and responding. They have gone too far. I am very
surprised," he said.

He did not deny the administration planned to increase parking
fees. "But the administration will not burden the people. We will
take their ability to pay into consideration before deciding the
new fees," he said.

The public was outraged by the administration's plan to
increase parking fees to up to Rp 5,000 a time in limited areas
without parking meters, or for the first hour in areas with
meters.

Motorists objected, saying the planned increase was
unrealistic.

Tini Hadad, chairwoman of the Indonesian Consumers'
Foundation, also slammed the plan. She said even an increase of
up to Rp 2,000 for the first hour would only be acceptable at
expensive shopping centers.

The head of city council's Commission C for revenue, Helmy AR
Syihab said parking fees were not the only source of revenue for
the administration.

"There are many official agencies able to contribute to the
revenue," he said Monday.

City secretary Harun Al Rasyid said the increase in parking
fees should be paralleled with better management of parking lots
and better control over parking attendants collecting parking
fees at illegal parking lots.

There are many unlisted parking areas that contribute nothing
to the city revenue office.

The City Parking Agency has come under fire for its failure to
reach targeted revenue. Last year it collected only Rp 11
billion, Rp 5 billion below its target. (sur/imn/11)