Rais for move of Kemang cafes to Kota

JAKARTA (JP): The deputy governor for economic and development Affairs, Tb. M. Rais, said yesterday Kemang's businesses should move to Kota, West Jakarta.

Kemang is a residential area and only 15 percent of its buildings should be non-residential. But this limit has been exceeded in Kemang.

The suggestion was first made by Jakarta's museum and restoration agency head, Haswidi Ahmad, who such a move would help revitalize Kota.

"Kota is a tourist spot and we are planning to centralize tourism activities there," Rais said.

Kemang business owners have said they have no choice but to comply with city administration's wishes to restore Kemang to a strictly residential site.

But they demanded other residential areas be forced to comply also.

Governor Surjadi Soedirdja said the city was partially to blame because it issued many non-housing permits, businesses have been told to move when their permits expire.

Rais said the 15 percent ratio was hard to work out because the population in areas like Kemang was growing rapidly, increasing the need for businesses.

On Tuesday several owners asked for their permits to be extended for three to five years but Rais said this was not possible.

"There might be adjustments in the future, but now all businesses should follow the city regulations," he said.

Businesses should cater to residents' needs but many people from other areas were coming to Kemang, he said. (10)