Govt allocates Rp 210 b to revamp traditional markets

The Jakarta Post  | Tue, 03/17/2009 9:38 PM  

The government will provide economic stimulus funds worth Rp210 billion for renovation of 31 traditional markets in 20 districts/cities, a trade ministry's official said as reported by Antara news agency on Tuesday. 

"The 210-billion budget is from the budgetary project funding lists for stimulus. Meanwhile from our (trade ministry's) program, the 2009 budget drafted in 2008 is Rp100 billion. So, the total funds (for market renovations) will be Rp310 billion," Subagyo, the trade ministry's domestic trade director general. 

Traditional markets with serious damages would get funds worth between Rp10 billion and Rp20 billion each, he said. 

"Many traditional markets are very old. As long as it's not an empty land, we call it renovation," he said. 

The market renovation program financed with the economic stimulus funds must be completed in October 2009 at the latest. 

The market renovations would be conducted moderately. "The construction will not reach four floors, but it's just two floors," he said. 

After the renovation, the local authorities must give priorities to traders who did businesses in the old markets, to get places in renovated markets, he said. 

The government launched a Rp73.3 trillion fiscal stimulus package on March 1 to tackle the looming impact of the global financial crisis.

Public markets to have new regulations

The Jakarta Post, Sat, 02/07/2009 1:05 PM

JAKARTA: With the new bylaw on private markets soon to be implemented, many things need to be put on hold, says an official with the city agency for small and medium enterprise, and trade.

"The bylaw is still being discussed by all the stakeholders, and I hope it will be ready this month," said the agency's head, Ade Soeharsana, on Friday.

"The regulation will give everyone fair opportunity.

"We have restraint permits for new convenience stores or foreign franchises planning to enter the city," Ade said.

"Four hundred of them have been waiting in line since 2006."

This is in accordance with the 2006 Jakarta Governor Instruction on convenience store permits.

Rudy Sumampouw, general secretary of the Indonesian Association of Retailers (Aprindo), said, "We hope the regulation will accommodate everyone's needs - big retailers as well as small ones."

Retail stores are mushrooming in Jakarta with 126 retail franchises and 149 convenience store chains, not including franchises.

North Jakarta has 9 different convenience store chains, West Jakarta has 58, Central Jakarta 23, East Jakarta 34, and South Jakarta 25, the agency said.

Pasar Minggu, Mayestik next markets in queue for face-lift

Triwik Kurniasari, THE JAKARTA POST, JAKARTA | Sat, 01/17/2009 2:06 PM 

 

City-owned market operator PD Pasar Jaya plans to revamp Pasar Minggu and Mayestik market, both in South Jakarta, into two modern, integrated areas.

 

Pasar Jaya spokesman Nur Haviz said the operator would integrate the shopping center with office buildings, bus terminal and train station in the Pasar Minggu area.

 

“Basically, we want to reduce traffic snarls in the area. The traffic is chaotic because there is no proper bus terminal there,” Haviz told The Jakarta Post on Friday.

 

“The condition gets worse because many people cross the busy street instead of taking the pedestrian overpass,” he said, adding that Pasar Minggu had potential because it connected Jakarta with Depok, south of the capital.

 

Pasar Minggu, which used to be famous for its fruit market, will have a new building design, he said.

 

“We will erect some lanes and pedestrian overpasses connecting Pasar Minggu train station with the shopping center and bus terminal.

 

“We will cooperate with some institutions, like the city transportation agency and railway operator PT Kereta Api,” he said.    

 

“There’s also a possibility that we will establish the bus terminal below or above the shopping center. It will be like the Blok M area [South Jakarta],” Haviz said.

 

Besides Pasar Minggu market, Pasar Jaya plans to rejuvenate Mayestik market in the near future. 

 

Famous for fabric, tailors and beads, Mayestik market, which was established in 1956, was previously known for its medicine shops. When the updated Mayestik market was opened in 1981, garment vendors began to dominate the 6,500-square-meter market.

 

The market will be renovated into a four-story building, with a parking lot at the top and in the basement.

 

“Hopefully, the parking lot will be big enough to accommodate visitors’ vehicles, solving the on-road parking problems,” Haviz said. 

 

“Vendors will be [temporarily] relocated to Jl. Tebah 1-3 and Jl. Taman Tebah [all in South Jakarta],”  he said.

 

The face-lifts are part of Pasar Jaya’s program to redevelop markets throughout the city.

It is now drafting revisions of regional bylaws on market management to allow for more facilities.

 

Earlier, Pasar Jaya head Uthand H. Sitorus said the revisions of a 1992 bylaw on market management and a 1999 bylaw on Pasar Jaya would give the operator greater opportunity to develop markets.

 

According to the current bylaws, it only has the authority to build and operate markets.

If the City Council approves the revisions, Uthand said, Pasar Jaya could build other facilities, such as offices and apartments, above the traditional markets.

 

Pasar Jaya has sought to turn its traditional markets into cleaner, modern markets.

Conflict has arisen between the operator and vendors over the renovation plans of markets throughout the city, with vendors saying the new designs disadvantage them and that the post-renovation rents are too high.

New look for old markets: Clean, shiny -- and empty

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Thu, 11/20/2008 10:33 AM 

 

NEW FACE: The stalls are clean and well-organized in Mede market, South Jakarta, thanks to a renovation project several years ago. (JP/Nani Afrida)

Suryat had been waiting for customers at his tempe (soybean cake) stall at Cipete market in South Jakarta since 6:00 a.m.

 

"Only a few customers have come to buy my tempe today, I wonder where the others are," he said over the weekend.

 

Weekends are normally peak times for market vendors, but not for those at Cipete. Suryat said the market had seen fewer buyers since it was renovated three years ago.

 

"Of course, many people still come here, but the number is getting smaller day by day. Perhaps they prefer to go to the supermarkets near here," he said.

 

The middle-aged man has spent almost his entire life as a tempe seller at Cipete. He says he cannot imagine doing anything else.

 

"I've been here since the market was still small and dirty before the government decided to temporarily close it down for renovation. Now we have a proper clean market to work in," he added.

 

Cipete market has tile floors and every seller is allocated a table on which to display their merchandise.

 

However, much to the puzzlement of the traders there, the renovation has not lured more customers, rather the opposite.

 

"We are now surrounded by two supermarkets," Suryat sighed. "I don't know. Perhaps that's why."

 

He said he had heard rumors the government would repair the market again, this time to a higher standard. However, he said the rumor was likely false, as the lack of customers would dispel any government incentive to spend more money.

 

"This market is empty. It is only bustling around the times of big holidays, like the fasting month and Idul Fitri," he said.

 

Mede market, also in South Jakarta, faces a similar situation. Mede was renovated by city-owned market operator PD Pasar Jaya several years ago.

 

The market is now clean and comfortable. It has an efficient drainage system and its floors too are tiled.

 

Even the meat and fish section appears tidy and hygienic.

 

"Before it was renovated, many people came here. I don't know why only a small number of people come now," Syahro, a meat seller at the market, told the Post.

 

It has two floors, including a basement, which is home to the vegetable, meat and fish stands.

 

Most people visit the basement because it is easier to access.

 

"Many shops on the first and second floors have closed because only a few people come to shop there," said Abdurrahim, a parking attendant.

 

He believes the city's more modern, cleaner and air-conditioned markets in the area have stolen Mede's customer base.

 

"You can find modern markets that offer not only fruit and vegetables, but also rice, no more than 50 meters from here," Abdurrahim added.

 

Although the evidence points to a growing prevalence for modern markets over traditional markets in the city, Pasar is optimistic the traditional market will survive.

 

"People of the middle to lower-income brackets who cannot afford to go to supermarkets need the traditional markets. Here, if you have no money, you can still get stuff on credit," said Nur Hafid, Pasar's public relations officer. (naf)

Related Articles:

Half traditional markets prone to bird flu: Commission

Traditional markets get a boost

Novia D. Rulistia , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Sat, 03/08/2008 12:11 PM

The government has allocated Rp 140 billion (US$15 million) for the construction and renovation of traditional markets throughout Indonesia this year, an official said.

Speaking to The Jakarta Post on Thursday, the Trade Ministry's director general for domestic trade, Ardiansyah Parman, said the budget, although limited, was expected to cover the renovation of market infrastructure, especially in the regions.

Ardiansyah said the budget, which was increased from Rp 100 billion in 2006, would be used to finance the construction of 32 traditional markets, 42 markets in remote and undeveloped regions, five markets in border regions as well as on the smallest and outer islands, 10 markets in regions that had been hit by disasters and nine supporting markets.

"Ideally, the budget needed for the development of traditional markets is Rp 15 trillion," he said, adding that it would take years to cover the development of 12,000 markets in 462 regencies throughout the nation.

The government has said that the survival of traditional markets is at risk as more people shop at modern markets.

In response, the government is also urging vendors at traditional markets to improve their services and market conditions, to maintain customers.

The government also issued a presidential regulation in 2007, which, among other things, restricts the expansion of modern retailers, including supermarkets, hypermarkets and convenience stores, in certain zones.

Last year, 20 traditional markets were built in provinces hit by disasters, including in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, Bengkulu, South Kalimantan and South Sulawesi.

In addition, seven traditional markets were built in border regions, such as Entikong in West Kalimantan, Skow in Jayapura and the Sangihe Talaud islands in North Sulawesi.

In remote regions, markets were built in the Mentawai islands, off the western coast of Sumatra, and Enggano off the southwest of Sumatra.

"For next year, we suggest that the budget for the development of traditional markets should be included in the special allocation funds (under the annual state budget) in order to speed up the development process," Ardiansyah said.

The role of local governments and the private sector in developing traditional markets also has to be stepped up, he said.

Market vendors demand end to mall permits

Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung

Traders from nine traditional markets in Bandung staged a rally at the West Java Legislative council Monday demanding that the government stop issuing building permits for malls.

A trader at the Ciroyom market in Bandung, Dadan Jumpena, 42, argued the municipal administration had not been selective in issuing building permits for malls to replace traditional markets. He said the administration cited excuses such as modernizing markets deemed dirty.

Traders are eventually forced to buy kiosks in the basement areas of these malls, at high prices set by the private developers.

"We have already met the legislative council and municipality a dozen times to voice our opposition but they have never responded seriously. More traditional markets will be evicted due to increased construction of malls," Dadang told the crowd from atop a truck in front of the legislative building on Jl. Diponegoro in Bandung on Monday.

Aside from the Ciroyom market, other traditional markets set to make way for malls include Pasar Baru, Ujungberung, Cicadas and Andir.

The municipality argues it lacks the funds to revitalize traditional markets, so it has invited the private sector to take part in the projects. However, according to Dadang, the revitalization benefits big traders at the expense of small vendors.

The traders say it is very difficult to pay the kiosk price of between Rp 11 million (approximately US$1,220) and Rp 21 million per square meter.

Based on this year's data at the Bandung Industrial and Trade Office, there are now 250 modern markets in Bandung, including 176 minimarkets and 74 malls and supermarkets. They compete with the thousands of traditional traders at 39 traditional markets.

A vendor at the Cicadas market, Beti Anan, said around 1,000 vendors who were relocated from the market earlier had been losing money for the past year due to the construction of the Bandung Trade Mall on the former market site.

"We could earn Rp 5 million (per day) in turnover previously, but earning Rp 2 million is good now," said Beti, who has been selling groceries at the market since 1984.

The head of Commission B on economic affairs at the West Java legislature, Hidayat Zaini, said he had sent a number of letters over the last year to the Bandung municipal council and administration about the issuance of building permits for malls and supermarkets, but had yet to receive a reply.

"We invited them to come, but there was no response," said Hidayat.

He added that the Commission was preparing a draft on a provincial ordinance on traditional market protection which would regulate permit issuance and determine the appropriate distance between a mall and a traditional market in a bid to alleviate unfair business competition.

"We cannot directly intervene with the municipality in prohibiting the issuance of permits for malls and supermarkets, but the regulation would make restrictions clear. In any case, the provincial administration is the representative of the central government in the provinces," said Zaini.

Architect proposes lift for Semarang's Pasar Johar

Suherdjoko, The Jakarta Post, Semarang

Pasar Johar market, Central Java's biggest traditional market and a historical landmark in the provincial capital Semarang, has been corroded by seawater over the years, but a group of engineers has a plan to fix it.

In May and June, a section of its 15,000-square meter area was swamped in rising seawater, which leached into the foundations of the market located in Semarang's Kota Lama old city area.

"As an architect, I am very concerned about the condition of Pasar Johar, which is a cultural heritage (building).

"If its unique mushroom-shaped pillars are continually exposed to the elements, the building, which boasts a strong and unique construction, may gradually demolish by itself.

"Coastal erosion has obviously damaged the concrete construction of its base. Therefore, we offer a proposal to raise Pasar Johar without altering its shape," said president director of PT Ecolmantech (Ecology Management Technology and Change), John Wirawan, in Semarang.

He said the method used to raise the building would not harm its structure, thus keeping the original shape of the market which was built by Thomas Karsten in 1933.

It's also hoped that raising Pasar Johar will help dispel rumors that Semarang Mayor Sukawi Sutarip plans to turn it into a modern market.

John, a German-graduated architect, said the technique had been since the 1950s overseas and was used to lift a building in Pulo Gadung, Jakarta, in 1990.

A steel structure would built beneath the building, which would then be raised on hydraulic jacks.

"We will place the jacks in various points to divide its weight equally. We will later raise the jacks all at once to lift the building bit by bit. It will take three to four days to lift the building up to one meter," said John.

The lifting should not damage the structure of the building, and preserving Pasar Johar will be cheaper than rebuilding it, he said.

"The method could cut the cost by half compared to building a new market," said John.

He said the cost of lifting the building was insignificant given that the history of the building made it priceless.

The first building John helped move was the 133-ton upper structure of the fly-over bridge at Taman Ria recreational park in Jakarta. His company was also involved in lifting a floating pier at that time and later raised a building at the Green Wood housing estate in Semarang.

Another architect, Harisanto, 75, said he had also been following the developments of Pasar Johar.

"I used to follow my father, who was Thomas Karsten's trusted technician, when the market was under construction. To me, Pasar Johar is a traditional market designed perfectly by Karsten," he said.

The market's ventilation system protects shoppers from the heat, while it has good natural lighting as well.

History has it that Pasar Johar became the biggest and most modern market in Indonesia as soon as it was completed. Its special trait -- the mushroom-shaped pillars -- was regarded as ahead of its time to its precise construction.

Pasar Johar is currently occupied by 2,628 traders. According to head of the Pasar Johar Traders Association, Prasetyono, his group has objected against any kind of renovation, revitalization, or "whatever terms the authorities use".

"We are already annoyed by any kind of term used," he said.

He said the construction of a shopping center next to Pasar Johar had already sent many traders out of business.

"That's why we reject the idea of raising Pasar Johar," he said.

He said seawater only swamped a small area of the market during certain hours in May and June, and that raising the market was not worthwhile.

"We have improved the southern section, which is dirty and squalid, and repaired the ventilation system. We have also raised the canopy to improve circulation," said Prasetyono.

Semarang Traders Forum chairperson Nurul Huda said the most important issue was not revitalizing the market, but overcoming the seawater intrusion in most parts of Semarang.

"If the Semarang municipality fixed the rising seawater in lower Semarang, it would resolve the problem in Pasar Johar," she said.

John Wirawan said his company would involve social experts, community figures and local politicians in the project.

"The Pasar Johar issue is not only the concern of architects, but everyone will be involved because this project is also in the interests of the general public," said John.