PSI Party Demands Barito Bird Market Preservation: Why Are We Sacrificing Small Traders?

The DKI Provincial Government together with the DKI DPRD held a meeting to discuss the transfer of Barito Animal Market traders to the DKI Jakarta DPRD building, Monday, August 4. (Diah-VOI)

JAKARTA - August Hamonangan, a member of the Jakarta Regional People's Representative Council (DPRD) from the PSI Party faction, has rejected the Jakarta Provincial Government's plan to relocate traders from the Barito Animal Market to make way for the development of three parks in the Blok M area of South Jakarta.

The Jakarta Provincial Government is reportedly in the process of relocating traders from the Barito Market to a temporary location. Some traders have signed the relocation agreement, but others still want to sell at the market located in front of Langsat Park.

Consequently, August asked Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung to maintain the Barito Market in its original location, adjacent to the planned revitalized park.

This was conveyed by August during a plenary session of the Jakarta DPRD, which was also attended by Pramono.

"We ask, especially myself and my colleagues from the PSI faction, that instead of postponing the project, we reconsider. At the very least, the iconic Barito Bird Market can be preserved, along with the development of the ASEAN Park or the Heritage Flag Park," said August at the Jakarta DPRD building on Monday, August 4.

Pramono, asked by August, acknowledged the controversy surrounding the relocation of traders from the Barito Market. He noted that the relocation land in the Lenteng Agung area is still vacant and not yet ready for use by traders.

Furthermore, the Barito Animal Market, established in 1979, is already recognized internationally. He believes the government needs to consider the aspirations of the traders who want their stalls preserved.

"Why are we sacrificing the icon and the small traders? They only need to earn a living to support their families, while we pride ourselves on creating a symbolic park," August argued.

"I ask the Governor of Jakarta to consider this carefully. At the very least, the relocation should be postponed. The situation on the ground is increasingly unclear, and we must not allow more victims to be found, and it turns out the location has been accepted by local residents," August continued.

For your information, Pramono plans to organize the area by combining three parks: Langsat Park, Ayodya Park, and Leuser Park. Prior to the groundbreaking, the Jakarta Provincial Government wants to relocate the Barito Animal Market traders to the Lenteng Agung area.

The South Jakarta City Government has given the vendors until Sunday, August 3, 2025, to vacate Barito Market.

South Jakarta Mayor Muhammad Anwar claimed that in the past few days, many vendors have independently relocated to their respective markets.

"Once this location is completely empty, the authority will be fully in the hands of the Jakarta Provincial PPKUKM Office for follow-up," said Anwar.