Residents, traders differ on new market

TANGERANG: While residents flocked to the traditional market in the Bumi Serpong Damai housing complex, which opened on Monday, traders complained about its high rental fees.

Irli, a vegetable vendor, said she could only pay the special Rp 180,000 (US$19) per lot, per month, for the first six-month period. "We will have to pay Rp 330,000 per month afterwards," she said.

Said, who sells chicken, said on Thursday he was tired of being told to keep his lot tidy all the time by the market's security officers.

However, it was the modern, clean facilities Herlina, 53, a resident in the complex, loved about the market. "I can't get everything I want from modern supermarkets, but going to traditional markets used to mean you had to deal with the stench, garbage, mud and flies," she said.

Complex public service division head Dohony Rahajoe, said the prices at the market were the same as in other markets, without the nuisance of gangs. --JP