Police to free Jakarta Fair from illegal parking attendants

Sr. Comr. Rikwanto: (Kompas.com/Sabrina Asril)

Jakarta Police say that they will do their best to maintain the safety and comfort of people visiting the Jakarta Fair at Kemayoran Fairground in Central Jakarta, reassuring the capital’s citizens that the event will be free from visitors being issued exorbitant, informal parking fees by individuals known locally as “Pak Ogah”.

Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Rikwanto said that the police decided to react against the issue following reports from last year’s visitors that they were charged Rp 10,000-15,000 (US$1.06-1.59) for parking fees.

“From 4,158 police officers deployed to the area, we will allocate some to guard the official parking area [of the Jakarta Fair] as well as other areas that were used as parking areas during last year’s event,” he told reporters on Thursday.

Rikwanto added that the police would also take actions against illegal street vendors, which according to him could charge as high as Rp 50,000 for a plate of nasi goreng (fried rice).

“The pricey menus offered by these vendors annoyed last year’s visitors. This year, we will specifically build a police post at the Jakarta Fair for visitors to file complaints at if they encounter these kinds of problems,” he said.

The Jakarta Fair, a one-month long event held annually to celebrate the city’s anniversary, is slated to officially open this evening in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta.

The event features a range of entertainment as well as shopping stalls, which mostly sell items and foods that have become Jakarta’s trademarks. (sat)