`Parking fees should be increased'

The city administration plans to impose a new parking system for street parking using prepaid cards next month. Residents, however, told The Jakarta Post that they doubted its effectiveness due to the presence of "self-appointed" parking attendants in parking lots.

Chris Ismutyanto, 46, is a manager of a local non-governmental organization in South Jakarta:

I think the new parking system will not be effective due to the existence of thugs. It is no wonder that the city administration gets less revenue because most of the money is collected by thugs, who then hand out some to city officers to secure their operation.

If this system is imposed, it would only favor the group that runs the project.

Funnily enough, paying the thugs that operate in parking lots does ensure the safety of our cars. But with the new system, they would probably not want to protect our cars and this would make motorists feel more unsafe.

It is hard to reject their demands for parking fees, as otherwise they would vandalize our vehicles.

So, the consumers in this case would have to pay twice as much, namely for the prepaid parking cards and these self- appointed parking attendants.

I would prefer a system with higher parking fees. It would minimize the number of unproductive vehicles on the street and in parking lots.

Bobi, 27, is a parking attendant in Blok M, South Jakarta:

I do not agree with the new parking system because the use of prepaid cards will affect my income.

Frankly, I used to be a bad guy and I have reformed due to this job. The new system will squash me as a low-income earner.

Besides, I would feel uneasy about requesting a parking fee from those holding prepaid cards. I'm sure I will be in difficult position.

The city government never sides with people like me. I'm just one of hundreds of other parking attendants who will probably lose their jobs.

I don't have any idea of how to get by. Should I turn to my past dark world again?

Nurul, 24, is an employee in a private company in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta:

I would agree to the new parking system only if it guarantees security. The city government must not be profit oriented and ignore the public's rights.

I'm afraid that the new parking system will be ineffective. As long as the government allows hoodlums to operate in parking areas, car owners will be paying double, to the government and the thugs.

The thugs may damage the portable electronic tools used in the new parking system as it prevents them from generating an income.

I know of an employee who poured hot coffee on an electronic machine for clocking-in to work at an office because he did not like the system, so what more thugs?

-- Leo Wahyudi S