PD Pasar Jaya fails to maintain traditional markets

JAKARTA (JP): The city market authority has failed in its quest to modernize the traditional markets with the failure to introduce hygiene standards, one of the authorities most important jobs according to a consumer advocate.

Zoemrotin K. Susilo, chairperson of the Indonesian Consumers Organization, said PD Pasar Jaya's approach of modernizing traditional markets to help them compete with supermarkets misses the mark. Traditional markets can not compete with supermarkets on their own ground, she added.

According to Zoemrotin, work on traditional markets should emphasize the maintenance of cleanliness, safety, comfort and also the strengthening of the special bonds between sellers and buyers. These relationships do not exist at super markets, said Zoemrotin.

She said that as a housewife she goes once a week to a traditional market where she always bargains for the right prices and enjoys the warm hospitality of the traders who provide fine merchandise.

She is convinced that the unique character of the traditional markets will help them survive.

In support of Zoemrotin's statement was Lihardin Sipayung, PD Pasar Jaya's public relations manager, who said that bargaining and warm hospitality are the advantages of traditional markets.

Governor Surjadi Soedirdja also recently stressed the need to preserve the practice of bargaining that is an integral part of the traditional market experience.

Surjadi acknowledged that the cleanliness and comfortableness of traditional markets leaves much to be desired and admitted that these shortcomings discourage shoppers.

Gerda Rosalina Marbun, head of the Blok M traditional market, agreed that cleanliness was the most difficult thing to achieve in a traditional market. However she claimed that buyers are also responsible for the problem due to their indifference.

Lihardin said that since 1981 PD Pasar Jaya has been organizing an annual three-day training course for market traders, at which they discuss such subjects as sanitation, marketing, how to display merchandise, banking and book keeping.

He said PD Pasar Jaya's main goal is to maintain cleanliness and order at all of its markets.

Despite the uncovering of a Rp 134 million (US$62,238) embezzlement case involving the authority's former treasurer in August of 1992, Lihardin said that PD Pasar Jaya's contribution to the municipality increased from Rp 600 billion ($278,680) in 1992 to Rp 700 billion ($325,127) in 1993. It hopes to earn Rp 900 billion ($418,021) in 1994. (03)