Plug leaks first

Managing the business of parking in Indonesia's big cities is like trying unravel a knot of tangled yarn. So many cars park in parking lots every day, and yet the revenue earned by the city administration, which manages the business, constantly falls short of target. So many parking attendants are on the job, and yet the safety of the vehicles parked is not assured. Parking tickets even carry the warning that "the parking management will not assume responsibility in case of loss of the vehicle or any of its contents," Little wonder that many people view this particular business as part of the existence of our big city mafias.

This kind of situation also exists in Jakarta. For 1994-1995 only Rp 9.5 trillion, or 65.15 percent of the targeted parking business revenue was collected. For 1995-1996 a revenue of Rp 16.79 trillion was set as the target.However, only Rp 11.2 trillion was collected. In 1996-1997 the situation was even worse. Of the targeted revenue of Rp16 trillion, only Rp 8.4 trillion was collected.

Leaks, however, are only a part of the problem. For example, according to the existing city regulations the parking fee is Rp 300 per car, irrespective of time. Where in Jakarta, however, can one park a car for that fee? Practically nowhere. The lowest going rate is Rp 500. Shopping centers even set a rate of Rp 1,000 with incremental amounts for each additional hour. What protection is given the consumer? Where does the balance between the money collectively paid by customers and that which is received by the city administration, go?

These are the questions that need to be answered before the decision to raise the parking fees is formally made, especially since the proposed raise of up to 1000 percent is quite considerable. Basically, perhaps, people can accept a reasonable increase. However, people also have the right to demand a clarification.

If the proposed increase is designed to reduce the number of private cars plying the roads, public approval might well be gained. However, people will demand the fulfillment of one important condition: that the safety -- and, most importantly, the comfort -- on public transportation vehicles is better guaranteed, and that punctuality regarding time schedules is observed. Can these conditions be met by the Jakarta city administration?

-- Republika, Jakarta