Probe on officials issuing illegal permits starts

JAKARTA (JP): Deputy Governor for Administrative Affairs Idroes said yesterday the governor had issued an instruction to investigate officials responsible for issuing illegal permits in Kemang, South Jakarta.

"The governor's instruction not only applies to Kemang but throughout the city," Idroes said Wednesday.

He said several offices were authorized to issue permits.

"But the officials should have known that permit issuance should be based on spatial plans. It is clear in the plans that Kemang is designated a residential area," Idroes said.

He said officials who abused their authority in issuing permits, would be punished, but he did not say what action would be taken.

The head of the City's Inspectorate Office, Djoko Brotosurjono, confirmed the instruction had been issued.

Governor Surjadi Soedirdja issued an instruction on March 18 to have all Kemang building permits checked because many of the buildings on Kemang Raya had been turned into restaurants or other businesses. The instruction said no new permits were to be issued until everything was in order.

A city rule says residential areas can have only 15 percent non-residential buildings, like medical practices.

Surjadi had earlier said that the abuses of permits in Kemang had occurred partly because of the poor coordination and supervision of city officials. Businesses operating on temporary permits are allowed to continue until their permits expire.

So far 20 businesses have been closed. Most of them were operating on housing permits and lacked other required permits. A business which serves food and plays music may need up to 40 different permits from different offices.

The Minister of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications Joop Ave said the municipality should provide somewhere for the Kemang businesses to move to. But the authorities have not yet replied.

Several of the businesses that were given a week to move were still open.

Mayor Pardjoko said his mayoralty would continue the operation despite the May 29 general election.

"We are continuing the check on building permits," he said.

Pardjoko, who led the operation, said Monday that a delegation representing all businesses in Kemang had come to his office, asking for time to get the necessary permits.

"I haven't answered yet. They have to follow the standard procedure," he said at City Hall.

At least one business owner said he would sue the city. (ste)