Malioboro Street Vendors in Yogyakarta Object to Relocation Plan

Thursday, 16 December 2021 – 20:46 GMT+7
A new location for Malioboro street vendors / Credit: M. Sukron Fitriansyah, JPNN

jpnn.com, YOGYAKARTA - Street vendors in the Malioboro area in Yogyakarta have objected to the relocation plan set by the Yogyakarta administration.

The street vendors, who are members of the Malioboro Angkringan Paguyuban, are still refusing to relocate.

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The head of the Malioboro Angkringan Paguyuban, Yati Dimanto, admitted that she was shocked when she learned that she would be relocated next year.

This will not be the first time for Yati. In 2004, her stall was relocated from the west side of Malioboro to its current location.

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"It was different. Before the relocation, we were invited to consult with the city administration since the beginning," she said, Wednesday (15/12).

For Yati, Malioboro is part of her life. There, Yati spent her childhood. She also has spent 21 years selling food in Malioboro.

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With the relocation plan amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Yati felt like she had fallen on a ladder.

At the beginning of the pandemic, Malioboro street vendors did not open their stalls. This has made their business sluggish.

"We did not sell for months, while our savings were used up for food," she said.

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The implementation of Level 2 PPKM by the provincial administration gave some hope to Malioboro traders.

However, with the relocation plan, traders are feeling anxious again.

According to Yati, if the relocation is realized, it will take time for street vendors to get customers in their new places.

"We also need to pay for food, children's school needs, and rent," said Yati.

In contrast to Yati, Nasoha (55), a knick-knacks trader in Malioboro, said she was resigned to the relocation plan.

Even so, she hoped that the government would give the traders time to recover their business first after the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. (mcr25/mcr20/jpnn)

This news has been broadcast on JPNN.com with the title: PKL Malioboro: Kami Seperti Sudah Jatuh Tertimpa Tangga