Traders, residents unaware of Tanah Abang makeover

Eva C. Komandjaja and Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Traders and residents around Tanah Abang textile market, Central Jakarta, are unaware of the Jakarta Administration's latest plan to transform the site into a plush business district.

Indrawati, who sells household appliances in her shop near the market, said on Monday that she had not heard of any plans to restore the market.

"Even if they want to rebuild the market, it wouldn't affect me and my business since my house is located outside the market, would it?" she asked warily.

The administration's Rp 6 trillion (US$698 million) Sentra Primer Kota (primary urban center) project plans to convert a 12- hectare residential area into a business district stretching from Tanah Abang textile market to Tanah Abang railway station. The construction is expected to finish in five years.

Another trader, who lives above his furniture store, also had not heard of the city's plan to modify the market.

"Whose idea is it to rebuild the market? I haven't heard anything about it," he said.

Some traders were worried that they would be evicted from the area once the administration proceeded with its plan to rebuild the market. If they were to be evicted, they feared that the administration would not provide adequate compensation or that any compensation would turn out to be an empty promise.

Neni, who has a clothes store outside the market, said she knew nothing about the project. She said, however, that rumors had been circulating that the traders would be evicted before the Idul Fitri holiday this year, which falls on Nov. 15 and Nov. 16.

"So far, there has been no notice from the Jakarta Administration, but I have heard from my friends that we will have to leave this area in November. But I don't know why," she said.

Neni said she would try to find another location for her shop, perhaps in another market, as she doubted she would get a chance to trade inside the new market complex.

City developer PD Pembangunan Sarana Jaya president Tebyan A'maari admitted that the administration had yet to introduce the plan to residents and traders in Tanah Abang.

"We haven't told them because we are still waiting for the governor's approval of five investors listed for the project," Tebyan told The Jakarta Post.

He added that project details had not been made yet, so it was too early to explain the project to Tanah Abang locals.

Currently, Tanah Abang's Blok A, which was destroyed by fire on Feb. 19, 2003, is being transformed into a luxury shopping mall.

The new Rp 400 million mall will have 16 floors above ground and three below, and will face the railway station on Jl. Jati Baru, which is to be converted into a monorail station.