Parking fee hike decision condemned by policy observer

Parking fee hike decision condemned by policy observer

JAKARTA (JP): A city policy observer criticized the city
administration for imposing a parking fee increase on Thursday.

Ali Wongso Sinaga, executive director of the Regional
Empowerment Study Center -- a city policy analysis body
consisting of several former city councillors -- said the
administration would not need to increase the fee if the parking
management was in order.

"It's no longer a secret that the city's parking problems are
due to poor management. It's also widely known that in several
areas the lots are managed illegally and that the revenues do not
go directly to the city administration," he said.

Ali, a former Golkar councillor, said without increasing the
fee the administration could still contribute more than Rp 16
billion (US$2.2 million) to the city's revenue.

He was referring to data compiled in 1999 by the city parking
agency stating that there were 164,000 street parking spaces
under the agency's auspices, while the number of private cars was
estimated at two million.

"So it is unbelievable that the 2000/20001 fiscal year city
budget has only estimated a total Rp 16 billion in revenues from
public parking," he said.

The administration will initiate an increase in parking fees
beginning on Thursday. There are two different rates -- Rp 500 or
Rp 1,000 per vehicle, depending on the location and its parking
density.

City spokesman Muhayat said earlier that Governor Sutiyoso
would only pass the new system if the parking agency improved its
management and infrastructures.

In areas like on Jl. Senen Raya in Central Jakarta and
Jatinegara in East Jakarta, parking business has been handled by
local residents who have sometimes acted like "hoodlums" and who
have not submitted the collected fees to the city administration.

"I have managed parking here since the 1970s, probably even
before the parking agency existed.

"I don't think the administration could take over the
management that easily because there are 10 of my staff who rely
on parking for their livelihood," said Doni, a "boss" of illegal
parking attendants on Jl. Senen Raya.

A similar comment was made by Suhardo, another "boss" in the
Jatinegara area.

"What's the difference between us and those from the
administration. I think parts of the income from the legal
parking attendants also do not go to the administration," he
stated.

Both Doni and Suhardo refused to reveal their daily income.

Surprisingly, such "illegal" parking management has also been
organized by the city-owned market management company PD Pasar
Jaya, which authorized several private companies to manage
parking activities at several city owned markets, like at Tanah
Abang market in Central Jakarta and Jatinegara market in East
Jakarta.

Some employees said the companies only collect money and do
not provide the parking infrastructures themselves.

"Parking attendants and infrastructures are provided by PD
Pasar Jaya. We only manage money collection at entrance gates,"
said Ria, employee of PT Jaya Mandiri, which managed money
collection at Jatinegara market.

There was no guarantee that cars would get parking space after
paying the parking fee.

"It will be managed by parking attendants from PD Pasar Jaya,"
Ria said, adding that daily revenue from her parking post was
about Rp 800,000. There were four posts at the market.

Similar conditions could be found at Tanah Abang market where
parking was managed by PT Laksana Aneka Sarana. A company
employee named Glenn said there were eight parking posts with
each bringing in an income somewhere between Rp 600,000 and Rp 1
million a day.

Officials from both PD Pasar Jaya and the parking agencies
refused to comment on the matter. (ind)