Basuki: I’m a Thug in Uniform
Reported by Erna Martiyanti | Translated by Rini Elvira
Jakarta Vice Governor Basuki T Purnama calls himself the thug of Jakarta Provincial Government. He does so because he wants to control illegal parking which all this time rampant in the capital city.
I’m the new chief of thugs now. Government’s official thug in uniform
“I’m the new chief of thugs now. Government’s official thug in uniform,” stated Basuki at City Hall, Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan, Central Jakarta, Tuesday (9/9).
By becoming chief of thugs, Basuki told that the way taken is not prohibiting the existence of illegal parking attendants. Instead, Jakarta Provincial Government will recruit them with wage in accordance to the 2014 Province Minimum Wage (UMP) for as much as Rp 2.4 million per month.
Eradicate Flat Mob, Basuki to Use Thuggery MeansSuch a way is taken because he believes there are thugs behind those illegal parking attendants who are collecting money from them. Thus, if the life of illegal parking attendants is prosperous, the fee to illegal parking thugs can be erased.
“We hire them (illegal parking attendants). We get the benefit because the fee to their superiors (thugs) is gone. Those thugs are the worst, they steal bigger money,” he said.
As known, starting Monday (9/8), Jakarta Transportation Department applies towing sanction to vehicles parked haphazardly. As a result, 11 vehicles were towed in the first day of implementation. Those vehicles are obligated to pay fine for as much as Rp 500 thousand as towing fee. Basuki believes that such a fee is effective to eradicate illegal parking.
“If the Rp 500 thousand fine did not create wary effect, we’ll tow the vehicles parked haphazardly to the police station. So, the police could give blue ticket which means the violators have to pay extra Rp 500 thousand. Thus, the total of fine they must pay is Rp 1 million. Then they would be wary,” he uttered.
Due to short in towing cars, the first phase of this policy is applied only five locations. For information, at this time Jakarta Transportation Department only has 14 automatic towing cars.
