The administration's recent sealing of business in several locations around Jakarta has triggered protests from owners, with some claiming to have official licenses for their shops.
Yahya, 25, the operator of laundry service on Jl. Pangeran Antasari in South Jakarta, said the city administration, especially its licensing division, must provide clearer information before issuing business permits.
"This laundry opened in the shop-house *specified in the business permit*. I don't see why the city administration issued this laundry with a business permit, but is now accusing us of building misuse," Yahya said. Despite the seal, his laundry and virtually all other sealed properties on Jl. Pangeran Antasari remained open.
Yahya said his business permit should also mean his shop is legal, meaning it was allowed to operate in its present location.
After sealing the businesses, the administration said the owners had breached residential zoning regulations.
Previously, Jakarta administration filed 57 lawsuits to South Jakarta Police after on business owners operating on Jl. Pangeran Antasari had allegedly removed and broken seals on buildings, which carries a maximum fine of Rp 500 million (US$53) or three-and-a-half years in prison.
In previous raids, officials have sealed buildings allegedly violating various other regulations.
South Jakarta Building Supervision Agency (P2B) head Widyo Dwiyono told The Jakarta Post the sealed buildings in his area had violated the building construction law, spatial planning law and a local bylaw on building construction.
There were a total of 1,594 buildings in South Jakarta that were violating those regulations, he said.
"We compiled an inventory last year and I believe we made information on the regulations clear."
Widyo said his office had seals properties in several areas, for example on Jl. Pangeran Antasari it had sealed an auto repair shop, a car wash and a salon; in Duren Tiga, Pancoran, it had sealed a chemist, a caf* and a salon; and in Tebet it sealed several clothing outlets.
In Menteng, Central Jakarta, 10 buildings were sealed on Thursday for violating a 1977 gubernatorial decree, which restricts the use of residential properties for commercial purposes, and a gubernatorial decree on building licensing in Jakarta.
Central Jakarta has identified at least 91 properties violating these decrees.
"Basically, we are sealing buildings which violate the 1977 decree, which stipulates that residences may be used for commercial purposes, as long as those business do occupy more than 25 percent of the property," Central Jakarta P2B head Wasil Thaib said, adding that the recent sealing of businesses was meant serve as a wake-up call for business owners.
"Should other owners realize their mistakes and fix them independently, I believe we won't have to prolong the raids," Wasil said.
The city administration needs to clarify its regulations on business locations to avoid future problems with owners, Izzi Pizza business development officer Lukman said.
"I believe the city administration has publicized the regulations well. However, the regulations can only be upheld strictly with good coordination between law enforcement officers and the public," he said.
The Izzi Pizza outlet on Jl. HOS Cokroaminoto in Central Jakarta was one of the buildings sealed in Central Jakarta.
Lukman urged other business owners to beware of standard licensing regulations before opening businesses.
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