Surabaya Mayor’s Crackdown on Illegal Parking Attendants Sparks Support and Criticism

Surabaya, Indonesia – Over the past two weeks, Mayor Eri Cahyadi’s aggressive campaign to eliminate illegal parking attendants, known as jukir liar, at minimarkets has dominated discussions in the City of Heroes. The initiative, aimed at curbing unauthorized parking fees, has elicited both widespread public support and sharp criticism over its execution.

Source: suarajatimpost

The operation, dubbed “Sapu Bersih” (Clean Sweep), began on June 2, 2025, when the Surabaya City Government issued a circular reminding businesses of their parking management obligations. The following day, Mayor Cahyadi personally led surprise inspections at two minimarkets in the MERR area, signaling the end of the socialization phase.

The campaign peaked on June 10, 2025, with a large-scale joint operation involving the military, police, and city enforcement officers targeting approximately 800 businesses across Surabaya. By June 11, 46 minimarket parking lots had been sealed off by the city’s Public Order Agency (Satpol PP), according to agency head Achmad Zaini.

The crackdown is grounded in Local Regulation No. 3 of 2018 on Parking Management, particularly Article 14, which mandates businesses to employ uniformed, company-identified parking attendants. This is reinforced by Local Regulation No. 1 of 2023 on Trade and Industry. To have seals removed, minimarkets must comply by assigning official parking staff and ensuring free parking for customers.

Initially, the public lauded Cahyadi’s bold move as a long-overdue response to years of frustration with illegal attendants who often engage in extortion and intimidation. Social media platforms buzzed with praise for the mayor’s decisive action. However, sentiment shifted following the mass sealing of parking lots on June 10 and 11. Critics argue that the policy unfairly targets business owners, who themselves are often victims of illegal attendants.

Responding to the backlash on June 14, 2025, at Surabaya City Hall, Cahyadi clarified that the root issue lies with businesses neglecting their legal obligations. “People ask, ‘Why punish the businesses when the attendants are at fault?’ I emphasize that the businesses are the ones violating regulations,” he said. He argued that if minimarkets had employed official parking staff from the outset, illegal attendants would have no opportunity to operate. “If businesses fulfill their duties, there’d be no room for illegal attendants. Don’t disrupt Surabaya,” he added.

Public policy expert Agie Nugroho Soegiono from Airlangga University praised Cahyadi’s leadership, noting that the crackdown reflects a strong commitment to enforcing regulations. However, he acknowledged the challenge of implementing the policy fairly without harming business owners. Soegiono described the operation as a strategic, incremental step toward addressing complex urban issues.

Also Read: