Will another mall fulfill our needs?

Bambang Nurbianto and Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Everyone has their own reason to go to the mall. It could be for shopping, sightseeing or a social gathering.

For Tria, 30, it tends to be the latter, plus catching up with what's hip today.

"The primary objective is to buy my monthly groceries. I could buy the stuff at my neighborhood supermarket, but I don't. Why? Well, because I also want to know what's in. In terms of fashion ... everything," said the mother of two, who was spotted at Plaza Senayan, Central Jakarta.

She and her husband regularly take their children all the way from their home in Serpong, Tangerang, to the downtown mall. Usually it is Plaza Senayan, Central Jakarta, or Mal Taman Anggrek, West Jakarta.

"Despite that, however, I never deliberately go to the mall just for recreation. It has never been the main reason because we live far from here. It's always because there's something we need to buy."

Whatever the reason, thousands swarm the malls scattered across Jakarta every day. And the numbers increase greatly on weekends and holidays.

There are indeed a lot of malls in Jakarta. They range from centers for specific items, such as computers or textiles, to grand, luxurious ones, such as Plaza Indonesia or Plaza Senayan.

Sociologist from the University of Indonesia Imam B. Prasodjo said that shopping malls were now among the most popular places to visit.

"They're free of charge. Besides, where else can we go as we lack recreation grounds and other public places in the city?" he said.

Therefore, he added, it was hardly surprising that thousands of people visited shopping malls every day.

Mall culture has become so deeply entrenched within society that malls have become attractive investments to businesspeople.

Based on data from property agent Procon's first quarterly report in 2002, the total floorspace of Jakarta's malls reached 1.2 million square meters (sqm). The additional floorspace to be created in 2002 and 2003 is estimated to reach 397,400 sqm.

At present, at least six new malls are planned to be built, and some are already under construction. They are Semanggi Plaza, Senayan Sport Trade Center, Senayan City, Senayan ITC Mangga Dua, Sportsmall and Mall Kelapa Gading Phase II.

According to retail observer Kafi Kurnia, the city needs many more shopping malls, given its population of around 10 million people.

"Compared with other cities, such as Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Hong Kong, the number of shopping malls in Jakarta is still low," he claimed.

Businesswise, it may be profitable, but the fast growth of shopping malls has sparked protests from environmentalists and other experts alike.

Many of the buildings were constructed on inappropriate areas, such as open spaces and general and social facilities. Such malls include Plaza Senayan, Mal Taman Anggrek, a number of malls in Kelapa Gading in North Jakarta and malls in Pantai Indah Kapuk, West Jakarta.

The latter, especially, has been blamed by environmentalists for having contributed to the extensive flooding that occurred in Jakarta early this year, which caused the death of about 30 people, disrupted the lives of more than 300,000 others and caused some Rp 10 trillion (US$1.1 million)-worth of financial losses.

The construction of new malls has therefore resulted in fewer and fewer green and open areas, and fewer areas to function as water catchments, as they become covered over by concrete and buildings.

"That will lead to more flooding. The Jakarta administration should increase green areas, but it looks as though the city master plan is still far from ideal," said Ahmad Safrudin from the Jakarta chapter of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi Jakarta).

The ideal percentage of green area should be about 30 percent of the total area of the city.

However, data shows that green areas account for only 9 percent of the total area of Jakarta, or 63,744 hectares. As for the 2010 city master plan, the green areas will be increased to only 14 percent within 10 years.

Another environmental impact from the establishment of new malls is air pollution.

Head of the Landscape Architecture department at Trisakti University Rully Besari said the continual loss of green areas to concrete would not only worsen flooding but also increase atmospheric pollution.

"Trees also absorb pollutants from vehicular and industrial emissions; therefore a lack of green areas in the city will worsen pollution," she said.

The growing popularity of malls has also produced a social impact.

Imam said that shopping malls created high consumerism on the one hand, while on the other caused frustration or envy on the part of the less fortunate.

"Therefore, the fast growth of shopping malls in the city should be accompanied by the development of places designed for the young generation.

"Places such as centers where young people can be creative or do something positive. They could develop their talents and hobbies like sports, the arts or music.

"In short, urban development should encourage citizens to be more productive and creative, not just create an escapist society through the existence of as many malls as possible," he added.

In the meantime, however, as the former are virtually nonexistent, it is the malls that fill people's needs. At least the need to escape, as the real world outside is hot and dirty.

That also goes for 15-year-old Gogon who lives in Ciledug, Tangerang.

Along with his two friends, he wandered around Blok M Plaza in South Jakarta.

Wearing faded T-shirts and old sandals, they were not brave enough to venture inside the shops in the building.

"We're here only for window-shopping. We're not intending to buy anything," Gogon said.

The boys then peered through a shop window, covetously eying the international-brand sneakers displayed inside.