TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Acting Jakarta Governor, Basuki 'Ahok' Tjahaja Purnama, has threatened to revoke the permits of malls that do not allow products from small and medium enterprises (UMKM) to be sold.
"If luxury goods can enter malls, then UMKM products must also enter malls. Otherwise, the permit will be revoked," said Ahok during the opening of the Jakarta Great Sale at Emporium Mal Pluit, North Jakarta, yesterday.
Ahok also regretted the people’s mindset about street vendors. "So far, we have misunderstood about malls. We’ve always thought that malls cannot be close to the traditional markets, no street vendors and UMKM products. That’s wrong."
"Many people working in the malls cannot afford to buy food inside the mall. They choose food sold by street vendors instead," Ahok added.
Ahok is pleased that Emporium Mall was willing to accommodate street vendors; As a result, he said, streets in front of the mall were no longer congested.
"Emporium [mall] sets a good example. The street vendors outside the mall can now operate inside the building. Later they must ask for permission to install air conditioning to the rooms specifically designed for street vendors so it won’t be stuffy", he said.
Kiosk rent inside a mall is cheaper than the one on the streets, said Ahok.
For the record, the highest rent for a kiosk inside the mall is Rp200,000 per month. "On the streets, they must pay higher. It can reach Rp300,000 per month," Ahok added.
One thing that makes the street vendors hesitate to sell their products in a mall is because mall management asks for the payment per two months, which Ahok said: "It is difficult. They can’t afford it."
ERWAN HERMAWAN
