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)