Passive Voice

Ahok prefers 15% contribution to profit sharing for reclamations

Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama said on Wednesday he had told the Corruption Eradication Commission ( KPK ) investigators about his preference for an additional contribution of 15 percent over a required profit-sharing by private companies that win reclamation projects.

It is one of the issues being examined by KPK investigators when he was summoned by the antigraft body on Tuesday, Ahok said.“If we agree with a profit-sharing scheme, how if a developer lies about its profits?” Ahok told journalists at City Hall.

The Jakarta city administration has included the additional 15 percent contribution from reclamation developers into a bill on the North Jakarta Strategic Area Regional Spatial Plan. It was one of the two reclamation bills that were being deliberated by the Jakarta City Council.

According to a regulation issued by the National Development Planning Agency ( Bappenas ), all of the reclaimed land is owned by the state, while the developer only has utilization rights to construct properties on 95 percent of the reclaimed land for a certain period of time.

Meanwhile, 5 percent of the reclaimed land should be handed over to the government, excluding what is needed for the public and social facilities ( Fasos/Fasum ) that should be built by the developer.

The additional contribution from the developer was in the spotlight when KPK investigators arrested Mohamad Sanusi, a city councilor, for allegedly receiving a bribe from PT Agung Podomoro Land ( APL ) related to a reclamation was being deliberated by the City Council.

The bribery case, particularly, was allegedly related to efforts by the developer to change the figure of 15 percent to only 5 percent.

Ahok said his testimony was needed to complete the legal document of the three corruption suspects — Agung Podomoro Land ( APL ) CEO Ariesman Widjaja, Sanusi and APL employee Trinanda Prihantoro.Ahok said he told the KPK that the 15 percent contribution would be more beneficial to the city administration than a profit sharing scheme.

If the 15 percent additional contribution is agreed, the city will receive 15 percent of funds from sold properties on reclaimed lands based on the taxable value of property ( NJOP ), the governor explained.“Should the developers keep postponing the contribution payment, their debt to the administration will keep increasing,” Ahok said, adding that the figure of 15 percent was decided based on the advice from credible consultants. ( bbn )

Odd-even policy to be implemented at Tangerang tollgates

The Greater Jakarta Transportation Agency (BPTJ) has decided to implement an odd-even license plate policy for motorists heading to Jakarta via the Tangerang 2 and Kunciran 2 tollgates. It previously considered applying the regulation at the Kunciran 2 and Bitung 2 tollgates. 

The toll road connects Jakarta and its satellite city of Tangerang in Banten, which the BPTJ says has seen worsening traffic, forcing vehicles to move at slow speed, particularly during morning peak hours.

According to the BPTJ, on average, 3,367 car pass through the Kunciran 2 tollgate, 3,131 through Bitung 2 and 3,025 through Tangerang 2 daily during morning peak hours. 

“The consideration is not only about the number of cars that pass through, but also other aspects such as the fact that the Tangerang 2 tollgate is close to many residential complexes,” BPTJ spokesperson Budi Rahardjo said. 

The policy stipulates that private cars with license plates ending in an odd number can only pass through the tollgates on odd-number dates and vice versa on weekdays. The trial period will start on Monday and will be fully implemented at the beginning of May.

The policy, which is also aimed at reducing the number of private cars entering Jakarta and forcing workers to use public transportation ahead of the Asian Games on Aug. 18 through Sept. 2 in the capital, will run from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., during which semitrailers are prohibited from using the toll road. 

A dedicated lane will be provided for buses, which is intended to cater to affected motorists looking to shift to public transportation when commuting to the capital. Premium bus services called JR Connexion are provided at some residential complexes, namely Citra Raya, BSD City, Alam Sutera, Villa Melati and Banjar Wijaya.

A similar policy will be applied at the Jagorawi tollgate, which connects Jakarta and its satellite city of Bogor in West Java. 

 The BPTJ previously implemented a similar policy at the West Bekasi and East Bekasi tollgates in West Java, which has eased traffic flow on the Cikampek-Jakarta toll road.

SOURCE : http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2018/04/11/odd-even-policy-to-be-implemented-at-tangerang-tollgates.html