Street Vendors Are Prohibited From Selling In Semarang Grand Mosque Square, Invited Around The Kauman Mosque

The atmosphere of the Great Mosque of Semarang during Eid al-Fitr 1440 Hijri on Wednesday 5 June 2019. (ANTARA-Aji Styawan)

JATENG - The Semarang City Government (Pemkot) facilitates new trading locations for street vendors (PKL) who have been selling in the Semarang Grand Mosque Square (MAS).

"According to the agreement, we prohibit them from selling in their squares," said Acting Head of the Semarang City Trade Office Fajar Purwoto in Semarang, Monday, September 11, confiscated by Antara.

However, he said, culinary street vendors were given permission to sell around the MAS Square, namely the road in front of the Kauman Semarang Mosque to the side of the Semarang Metro Hotel specifically on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

According to him, street vendors are allowed to sell for three days on weekends around the Square area with operating opening hours starting at 17.00 WIB until 23.00 WIB.

"Please use the Square only for chairs, tables and meals, the street vendors (are). So, the road there Saturday-Sunday (weekday) is closed," he said.

He said that the Semarang City Disdag supports the MAS Square area to develop into a new icon with various culinary delights, but while maintaining the sustainability of these public facilities.

"People who want to come are culinary, come to the MAS Square every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Yes, this is specifically the weekend. If you feel more crowded, you could add more time (days)," he said.

Meanwhile, Semarang Mayor Hevearita Gunaryanti Rahayu confirmed that street vendors are not allowed to sell in MAS Square because synthetic grass is being prepared.

"In the square yesterday, it would actually make (the upper part) directly the process of procuring synthetic grass, but in conjunction with the BPK audit, the recommendation for purchase should not be more than Rp. 1 billion for self-management," said Ita, her nickname.

In fact, he said, the purchase of synthetic grass is indeed in the price range so that later it will again consult with the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) to try re-procurement.

He explained that the installation of synthetic grass is intended to make it cleaner, not easily damaged, and the treatment is easier than natural grass, which was planted and parried yesterday.

"But after that it can't be used for activities using a tent, what do you use? Yes, it's like the square is used to relax," he said.

People are allowed to do activities in the MAS Square, he said, but selling activities are prohibited and have been facilitated on roads around the area.