Pelindo II ready to hand over port ownership

Pelindo II ready to hand over port ownership

JAKARTA (JP): The Tanjung Priok seaport authority, PT Pelindo
II, is ready to transfer the seaport ownership to city
administration in compliance with the implementation of the
regional autonomy, a company executive said on Tuesday.

"We are ready to comply with Laws No. 22/1999 on Regional
Autonomy, No. 25 on the Financial Balance between the Central
Government and the Regional Administrations, and No. 34 on
Jakarta's Status as Indonesia's Capital," PT Pelindo II president
Herman Prayitno told reporters.

"It's only like changing our juragan (master) from the central
government to the city administration," he said.

He said PT Pelindo II also operated two other seaports in
Jakarta, the Sunda Kelapa and Kalibaru seaports. Both are in
North Jakarta.

Members of city council's Commission D on Development Affairs
visited the seaport to get a closer view on its activities.

Commission chairman Sayogo Hendrosubroto said it would be
better if the transfer of the seaport's ownership was
accelerated.

"The seaport has a vital influence on the city's economic
activities. It can support the city's ambition to be a service
city," he added.

Both Herman and Sayogo, however, admitted that the central
government yet to issue a decree on the guidelines for the asset
transfer.

"The central government is still deliberating the transfer
procedures.

"We have submitted several options on the transfer to the
Ministry of Home Affairs," Herman said, but did not elaborate.

Sayogo said the council hadn't made any decision on the
transfer yet.

"We can't do anything regarding the transfer as there are no
guidelines. The transfer needs thorough and careful study before
being implemented," he said.

Similar views were aired by other councilors, such as Tjuk
Sudono of the National Mandate Party (PAN) and Totok Ismunandar
of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan).

Sayogo said the transfer was important for the city
administration as it will secure revenues from the seaport's
activities.

Tanjung Priok seaport general manager, Sarwediyono said the
seaport had a total area of more than six million square meters
of land and some four million square meters of sea surface.

"There are more than 28,000 employees working in the port from
various agencies and companies. Pelindo itself has some 4,000
employees," he said.

He said the port had an annual income of some Rp 700 billion
(US$100 million) with a total profit of more than Rp 100 billion.

Herman also revealed that the seaport operator had revised
three agreements reportedly to be associated with former
president Soeharto's family.

"We have renegotiated, for example, the agreement with Humpuss
in managing the Koja Container Terminal. Previously, Humpuss was
granted 92 hectares of land and 1,100 meters of berth and
controlled 51 percent of the share," he said.

After the renegotiation, Humpuss only controlled 49 percent of
the shares, 30 hectares of land and 500 meters of berth, he
added.

"We have also revoked our agreement with PT Wahana Sari Karya
to provide fresh water. There has been a tender to replace the
company," he said.

"Another company, Manggala Krida Yudha, responsible for the
reclamation project in East Ancol, was restructured. We have
replaced the owner," he said without giving further details. (05)