MRT President Director Admits There Was An Increase In Blok M District Kiosk Rental Before Going Viral

JAKARTA - President Director of PT MRT Jakarta Tuhiyat admitted that his party as the manager did not know if the cost of renting a kiosk at Dristict Blok M, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta had soared at this time.

The increase in the rental of the Plaza 2 Blok M kiosk resulted in a number of traders leaving the place. Tuhiyat admitted that he only found out that there was an unusual rental rate increase after it went viral on social media.

"We don't know what (increases). Because we weren't told," Tuhiyat told reporters, Thursday, September 4.

District Blok M is an asset belonging to the DKI Provincial Government with PT MRT Jakarta which is assigned as a manager as of January 2025. To manage this area, MRT cooperates with merchant cooperatives.

In fact, MRT set a kiosk rental rate of IDR 300 thousand for cooperative members and IDR 1.5 million for traders outside of cooperative members. But recently, cooperatives in District Blok M charged traders rental fees of up to IDR 4.5 million per month per stall.

"This is sudden because in the last month this has only been billed. The previous one was in accordance with the agreement," said Tuhiyat.

On Wednesday, September 3, DKI Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung directly checked the condition of the kiosks in Blok M District, South Jakarta which went viral because many traders had left. They said goodbye from the Blok M District as a result of being charged a high rental fee.

Sure enough. When surrounding Blok M District, Pramono found that many stalls were closed. From this condition, Pramono found that it was the cooperative that was the manager there that increased the rental fee.

"I went to Blok M on purpose to specifically want to see what went viral in Blok M. Some of the kiosks that were closed because they were billed for fees that were too expensive. I have checked directly, discussed with the Director of MRT, that it did happen," said Pramono at the location.

On that basis, Pramono threatened to cut cooperation in the management of District Blok M if the cooperative was still setting rental fees for traders exceeding the lower limit and upper limit on the previously agreed rates.

"I ask for cooperation that is violated by the cooperative, if they do not fulfill what is agreed, then I ask to be posted, the cooperation will be stopped," explained Pramono.

Furthermore, Pramono also offered MSME traders who left Blok M District to move to sell in the Blok M Hub area, precisely in the B1 alley. In fact, Pramono will free the rent for the first two months if they want to move.

"Because this place is fully managed by the MRT, this place will be used to move for anyone who wants to use this place. If they want to use this place, then we will give freedom for two months. Free, free, so that they want to move to this place," Pramono explained.

After being free for two months, the rental fee for relocation in the B1 Blok M Hub aisle offered by the MRT is Rp. 100,000 per square meter and the service / maintenance fee is Rp. 100,000 per month. So, if traders want to rent a kiosk with 9 square meters, the rental fee charged is Rp. 1.8 million per month.

"Hopefully what is the concern of the traders in Blok M, can be resolved soon. Because I know, Blok M is now a new hub for Jakarta. So, once it goes viral, I am here today. Because I don't want this to be prolonged, this must be resolved immediately," he added.