Heritage Building in Penjaringan Turns into Prostitution Place

Pasar Ikan heritage building on Jalan Pasar Ikan, Penjaringan, North Jakarta, is in appalling conditions with its ceilings and walls fell apart in some parts. Moreover, minimum supervision to the building makes dozens of people with social welfare problems (PMKS) live in the building which built by VOC in the 18th century.

Please repair it immediately because since there is no lighting, in the night this place is used for gambling, drinking, or prostitution acts

At a glance, the building, that had been used for fish auction center, looks does not have historical value. Moreover, its location behind PD Pasar Jaya Fish Market makes it disguised.

“Since no longer used as fish auction center, the building is never operated again. In fact, many strangers live in there. Now there are at least 30 people live there,” disclosed Cahyono (45), the building’s security officer, Tuesday (10/7).

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According to him, those people even built partitions so they could live inside the building. He guessed it is one of the causes that affects the building’s structures and makes the walls collapsed, aside the construction of sluice near Sunda Kelapa Port.

As for the process of collapsed walls, Cahyono explained that it happened several times until the building looks like now. First, on May 12, 2013, around 1 PM, the ceilings on the southwest side of the building fell in some parts. Second was on May 22, 2013, when the ceilings on the center until back of the building collapsed.

“Last was on May, 23, 2013. The ceilings collapsed again around 3 AM, starting from center until back part of the building, until the roof and walls on the east side collapsed,” he told.

“I’m only mandated to watch the building. I cannot do much to the people who stay in the building. If could, please repair it immediately because since there is no lighting, in the night this place is used for gambling, drinking, or prostitution acts,” he said.

Responding on this matter, Head of Muara Baru Fishery of Fish Port and Fish Docking Management Unit for Jakarta Husbandry, Fishery, and Maritime Department, H Samsudin, admitted that the building is a heritage building. In the future, Jakarta Husbandry, Fishery, and Maritime Department is going to do restoration to the building.

“The department will repair it. From the information I got, in 2015 there will be fencing, data recording, and construction planning. Then in 2016, the building probably be restored,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Head of Jakarta Husbandry, Fishery, and Maritime Department, Darjamuni, uttered that his department has proposed to the council for restoration to the ex fish auction center building.

“We also got inputs from Jakarta Tourism and Culture Department. It is planned that the building will be restored like original,” he informed.