Tangerang to clear 'becak', massage parlors after election

Multa Fidrus, Tangerang

Tangerang municipal administration will remove becak (pedicabs) and massage parlors from the downtown area in accordance with newly issued Bylaw No. 5/2004 on a becak free area and a municipal decree on an integrated amusement center.

Mayor Wahidin Halim said the action would take place right after Monday's presidential election.

"We have introduced the new bylaw to the public. Traffic signs that prohibit becak from traversing the area have been installed, while becak owners have also been informed about the plan," city spokesman Chaerudin told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.

Chaerudin said the municipality's public order officers had been instructed to try to persuade the becak drivers to comply with the regulation during the first phase of the bylaw enforcement.

The Post found becak still freely operating over the weekend on almost all main thoroughfares such as Jl. MH. Thamrin, Jl. Merdeka, Jl. Daan Mogot, Jl. Sudirman, Jl. Imam Bonjol, Jl. Gatot Subroto and Jl. Perintis Kemerdekaan.

Many of them were seen riding against the traffic or crossing the busy roads.

Sabar Situmorang, head of Tangerang Public Order Agency said that from July 6, becak would be prohibited from operating on Jl. Daan Mogot, Pasar Lama, around Mesjid Agung, Jl. MH. Thamrin and in several other areas.

Besides becak, the administration will also scrutinize unregistered massage parlors that are mushrooming in Tangerang.

The move is justified by the recently issued decree that allows the presence of amusement sites only in Pinangsia business district in Karawaci.

"A lot of the massage parlors appear lawful, but most of the time they are just disguised houses of prostitution ," he added.