Basuki: There Will Be Massive Raid Against Street Vendors
Reported by Rio Sandiputra | Translated by Nugroho Adibrata
Ahead of the fasting month, street vendors began to crowd Tanah Abang Market area, Central Jakarta, selling wares on roadsides. Not only that, illegal parking is also rampant around the largest textile market in South East Asia, and caused traffic congestion on Jalan Cideng Barat, Jalan Cideng Timur, Jalan Jatibaru, until Jalan Kebon Sirih.
Judges lately only fined Rp 100,000 in minor crime act (tipiring). We want it Rp 20 million, or calculated per item by Rp 100,000 from the seized wares
Such condition inevitably makes Acting Jakarta Governor Basuki T Purnama growls. To give deterrent effect, he asks Central Jakarta State Court judges to prosecute the street vendors with severe sanction.
“Judges lately only fined Rp 100,000 in minor crime act (tipiring). We want it Rp 20 million, or calculated per item by Rp 100,000 from the seized wares,” stated Basuki on the sidelines of sudden inspection at Tebet Sub-District office, South Jakarta, Tuesday (6/10).
Basuki Fretful Seeing Many Street Vendors in MonasBasuki stressed that decisive act will be applied to the street vendors as well as the party that rents stalls. They will be arrested over the violations committed.
“We’ll arrest them and ask them to pay tax as well. There will be massive raid against street vendors later,” he disclosed.
Besides in Tanah Abang, the street vendors who are selling not in designated location in Monas area will also be controlled. However, they will be provided with place to sell. Later, the street vendors are obligated to open accounts in DKI Bank to pay the retribution.
“We’ll also sterilize Monas area. The street vendors selling on sidewalks and at the parks will be limited. They must open accounts in DKI Bank to pay the retribution. No more pay fee to thugs,” he asserted.
According to Basuki, this policy has double benefits. Besides able to arrange the street vendors, local revenues would surely increase.
“(City’s) revenue could increase. It could also be allocated for regional performance allowance (TKD) of service officers, thus their take home pay could reach Rp 12.5 million,” he uttered.