Tanah Abang Market Trader Threatens To Close JPM Access

JPM Tanah Abang Market/ Photo: Antara

The increase in service rates (service charge) for kiosks at the Mutliguna Ferry Bridge (JPM) or Sky Bridge was complained of by Tanah Abang Market traders. After several protests, this time the traders threatened to close access to JPM.

The plan to close JPM access was carried out in response to the increase in service rates without any discussion which led to the sealing of hundreds of stalls owned by traders by the DKI BUMD manager Perumda Sarana Jaya.

"If Sarana Jaya only lowers the tariff of Rp. 50,000, traders agree not to pay service charge. If they again seal it, we will close access to JPM," said Chairman of the Tanah Abang Market Traders Association Jimmy Rory, quoted from Antara, Friday, October 18, 2024.

Jimmy admitted that the traders had waited a long time to hear Sarana Jaya's decision. However, in the meeting on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, the decision taken by Sarana Jaya was not wise.

The merchant's demand that the service rate be IDR 800 thousand per month is not listened to by Perumda Sarana Jaya. The manager is only willing to reduce the tariff of IDR 50 thousand or to around IDR 1.3 million per month.

According to Jimmy, even though the manager has lowered the tariff, it is still considered too high and very burdensome for traders. Moreover, sales at JPM Tanah Abang Station decreased drastically after COVID-19, there were even some traders who were not visited by buyers at all.

"We from January to October only sell 1-2 pieces of clothes. Not as busy as before. People's purchasing power has dropped," said Jimmy.

The demonstration carried out by traders at JPM Tanah Abang Market, yesterday, Thursday, October 10, brought several points of demand to be forwarded to market managers, namely BUMD Perumda Pembangunan Sarana Jaya and other operators.

Traders feel that there is still a threat from the manager regarding a circular containing information on the rental price and sealing of kiosks.

The first demand is that traders ask for the kiosk service tariff to be reduced to only Rp800 thousand starting this October from the previous Rp1.4 million.

The second demand asks the manager to break the kiosk seal so that traders can return to find money to continue their lives. The third demand is that traders ask for time to pay the kiosk service tariff.

Regarding this action, the Regional Owned Enterprise (BUMD) Perumda Pembangunan Sarana Jaya has opened hundreds of stalls for traders of the Tanah Abang Market Multipurpose Crossing Bridge (JPM), Central Jakarta.

"This is a follow-up to today's action. It protested the increase in service rates (service charges) without any discussion," said Perumda Sarana Jaya Business and Marketing Staff Donni Setiawan at JPM Tanah Abang Market, Central Jakarta.