City Drafts New Rules for Street Vendors

"Jakarta should be modern, livable, well-arranged, humane, there should not be one person reviling others, must administer

To arrange street vendors optimally, Jakarta Provincial Government is drafting new rules, where street vendors will be relocated to the shelter. By so, roads in Jakarta would be more sterile from vendors.

"Jakarta should be modern, livable, well-arranged, humane, there should not be one person reviling others, must administer," said Acting Jakarta Governor, Basuki 'Ahok' T Purnama at City Hall, Monday (6/30).

Causing Congestion, Street Vendors in Jembatan Lima Controlled

Basuki acknowledged he is dilemma in dealing with vendors in the capital. On the other hand, his party obligated to enforce the bylaw No. 8/2007 on Public Order. Moreover, trade is the livelihood of street vendors.

"Vendors will not go away from Jakarta if we do not enforce the rules. The mayor does not dare to crack down on them. So, it is difficult to create public order in our city," he exclaimed.

According to him, such condition is caused by people prefer to buy something in street vendors than formal vendors. If it doesn't happen, we could minimize its existence. Supposedly, vendors can trade orderly, like in Singapore.

"If the sidewalk is wide, may street vendors trade there? Of course, they can. In Singapore, where you buy potong ice (sliced fruit popsicle)? In sidewalk, right. But here, most vendors are controlled by thugs thus they do not obedient to us," he expressed.

Hence, he continued, the new rules are still under process. By so, every vendor must pay levy to Jakarta government over trade permission.

"We're preparing the new rules for street vendors. Later on, their stalls cannot be rented or sold. If they violate it, trader permit will revoked," he asserted.

He stressed that he is ready to deal with the vendor if the they abuse trade permit. "If you (vendors) behave arbitrarily, just fuss with me. I do not care," he stated.