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cting Jakarta governor Basuki '€œAhok'€ Tjahaja Purnama will fire the head of the management unit of the National Monument (Monas) park, Firdaus Rasyid, for his failure to clear the area of street vendors.

Ahok told reporters at City Hall on Wednesday that the Parks and Cemetery Agency head would replace Firdaus, who has only held the post for two months.

'€œThere are only two possibilities '€” either he is afraid to relocate the street vendors or he has accepted money from them,'€ he said.

According to the acting governor, Firdaus should have reported any person or group preventing him from obeying the order.

'€œIf someone is threatening him, it should be reported to the police. If a police officer threatens him, we will take the case higher,'€ he said, adding that officials should be creative when addressing problems.

Ahok said if the head was afraid, then he should quit. '€œWhy accept the position if you are afraid of threats from others?'€ he said.

Ahok said he was suspicious that there had been illegal levies imposed on street vendors and claimed he had gathered evidence of other irregularities, including cars that were allowed to enter the park and drop off street vendors inside.

There have been regular raids to clear the 80-hectare park of illegal vendors but the park continues to be crowded by vendors especially at night.

Former governor Sutiyoso once relocated the vendors to nearby IRTI parking lot but hundreds still sneaked back to the park.

The city administration issued Bylaw No. 8/2007, which prohibits street vendors from hawking their wares on the streets, sidewalks and city parks.

Ahok said the city administration would no longer tolerate the situation.

'€œI want to negotiate with court judges to ensure the maximum fine is slapped on street vendors infringing this bylaw. The judges should fine them per item,'€ he said.

He previously said that the city administration was considering the dedication of limited space in parks for street vendors as long as they maintained the area.

Separately, Firdaus played down Ahok'€™s plan to fire him.

'€œIt is normal that a father scolds his son, right?'€ he said.

Firdaus said he would try to do his best to control street vendors.

'€œWe only have 55 security guards to supervise such a large park,'€ he said.

He also hinted that many had dirtied their hands and '€œallowed'€ street vendors to continue.

'€œThe acting governor also recognizes that many other officials are also '€˜involved'€™ or have a vested '€˜interest'€™ in Monas,'€ he said declining to elaborate.

Firdaus said it was difficult to supervise the vendors as many '€œinterested'€ parties were involved.