Hundreds Of Satpol PP Guard The Old Town Area From PKL

Satpol PP officers control street vendors/ Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - At least 120 officers from the West Jakarta City Civil Service Police Unit (Satpol) will guard for two shifts in Kota Tua, Taman Sari, West Jakarta to anticipate street vendors (PKL).

"There will be two shifts, morning and night, to be on guard around Kota Tua," Sumardi Siringoringo, Head of the Civil Service Investigative Section (PPNS) and West Jakarta Satpol PP Enforcement Section, said in West Jakarta, Wednesday, July 13.

He emphasized that the task of the Satpol PP was not to confiscate the merchandise of street vendors but to encourage them to move to locations that were already available.

This is done so that the Old Town Tourism area is neatly arranged so that visitors can travel comfortably.

Sumardi ensured that his staff would act humanely so that street vendors would not feel intimidated when asked to move.

Previously, the sub-district head of Taman Sari, Agus Sulaiman, said that his party was trying to move all street vendors to two places that had been provided, namely the Kota Intan target location which was managed by the government and the Cipta Niaga building which was managed by the private sector.

"In Kota Diamond there are 457 points and in Cipta Niaga there is a capacity of 120 points," said Agus.

So far, 272 Kota Tua street vendors have agreed to move to the Kota Intan area and 41 street vendors are willing to be moved to the Cipta Niaga area.

Agus appealed to other street vendors to be willing to move to the targeted locations so that the culinary center of Kota Tua could be concentrated in one point.

"The advantages received by street vendors are many, namely being able to sell safely, comfortably and certainly it will be crowded because the vehicle parking lot will also be centered here," said Agus.