Small businesses in residential areas
Small businesses in residential areas
On Oct. 22, PT. Jaya Real Property Tbk notified small
businesses in Bintaro's Sectors III and V (not the other sectors
in Bintaro) that they had three days to get out. These
notifications came in the form of hand-delivered letters
(590/JRP/PP-HW/X/97). The reason given was that these small
businesses were operating in residential areas.
This notification came without any prior warning whatsoever.
The person who issued the letter refused to meet with a group
representing the small businesses in Sectors III and V on the day
that the letter was issued.
A brief meeting with subordinates did not produce any
significant results or clear reasons for the arbitrary nature of
the notifications. When asked why only small businesses in
Bintaro Jaya Sectors III and V were being told to get out in
three days, the Jaya subordinate replied that this was only the
beginning and that the other sectors would be dealt with later.
A letter signed by 30 small businesses from Bintaro Jaya
Sectors III and V did not elicit a response from PT. Jaya.
Jaya sent a second letter on Oct. 27 (.../JRP/PP-HW/X/1997),
and a third on Oct. 29, to all small businesses in Bintaro
Sectors III and V reminding them that their three days to get out
had passed.
It is difficult to understand how forcing out small businesses
in Bintaro Sectors III and V will help the property market in
Bintaro. Houses on the main streets are not very suitable as
homes because they are big and located close to traffic.
These houses were sold and are being sold at higher prices
than those on quiet streets because they can be used for business
purposes.
When one particular business (with which the author is
familiar) opened two years ago in Bintaro Jaya (with all
necessary government permits and licenses), they discusses their
plans with PT Jaya's management office. Not only was PT Jaya
supportive but it agreed to advertise this business in PT Jaya
Real Property's Kicau Magazine (for which a fee was paid) and
they put banners up for the business (again for a fee). Other
businesses had the same reception.
Why has PT Jaya Real Property Tbk chosen this particular time
to attempt to impose such impossible conditions on small
businesses in Bintaro Sectors III and V? Why have they only
focused on Sectors III and V? Why have they given only three days
to get out when most housing rental contracts have been paid in
advance for two years and mortgages even longer? Why have they
not attempted to impose the same conditions on banks operating in
residential areas? Where is their social conscience and concern
for those that would become unemployed by such actions?
The older sectors (I and II) have even more businesses and the
newer sectors (VI, VII, VIII, IX) have many businesses that are
just starting up. This comes at a time when it is already clear
that Indonesia is in for some economic difficulties and
unemployment problems.
Why go after small businesses now? This tactic is not going to
improve the prosperity or help the property market in Bintaro. If
PT Jaya is really keen on maintaining residential zones in
Bintaro, why have they done nothing until now? And what about the
rest of Jakarta? The Blok M area comes to mind.
M.E. DYAH R.
Jakarta