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City investigates renting of Tanah Abang sidewalks
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Street vendors occupy Jl. KH Mas Mansyur near Tanah Abang Market in Central Jakarta on July 15. (Tempo/Eko Siswono Toyudho)
T
he Jakarta Small and Medium Enterprises Agency is investigating reports about the “rental” of Tanah Abang sidewalks to street vendors, and the alleged involvement of civil servants in the business.
The vendors reportedly pay Rp 500,000 (US$36.90) per month to get space on the sidewalks to conduct their business.
The rent, which is considered low by most of the vendors, has led to them leaving the kiosks provided by the administration to go back to doing business on the sidewalks.
The head of the agency, Irwandi, said the administration had not yet discovered the people who rented out the sidewalks.
“We will ask the vendors [about to whom they are paying rent]. If they’re paying it to civil servants, and have the evidence in the form of photos, we will act firmly against them,” Irwandi said on Thursday as quoted by kompas.com.
The agency would engage the city’s inspectorate, Central Jakarta administration and Public Order Agency to investigate the matter, Irwandi said.
They would also monitor activities on Tanah Abang sidewalks to monitor and curb the practice of illegal levies there, he added. (cal)
