Parents oppose planned market

JAKARTA: Hundreds of parents in Bekasi, West Java protested Friday against a plan to build a market on 4,000 square meters of land next to Pedurenan I elementary school in Mustikajaya subdistrict.

The parents argued that the market would have a negative impact on the learning process and health of their children studying at the school.

"We strongly oppose the planned market as garbage from the market will spread stench to the school and could spread various diseases among students," exclaimed Siti Fatimah, one of the parents.

The protest came after parents spotted a large announcement board saying that a market would be established in the area.

Supporting the protest, chairman of Bekasi Municipal Council's Commission B for economic affairs Mulyanto said that the market would have a negative impact on the learning process in the school.

According to Antara news agency, the market would be built and managed by PT Berlian Elang Surya Perkasa.

Head of the Mustikajaya subdistrict Giyono, however, said that he had no information about the plan to build a market in the area. --Antara