As part of the city government’s attempts to make education cheaper and more accessible, the JakBook and Edu Fair (part of the Jakarta Book Fair) is supposed to offer parents and students a place to get books and supplies, priced below market prices, that they could purchase using the Jakarta Smart Card (KPJ) program.
But when Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama came to open the fair yesterday (the first day of the new school year) he was shocked and angered to find out from some parents that most of the books and supplies being sold there were actually priced higher than in regular shops.
Ahok was apparently so upset by this news that he had to go to the bathroom to vent his anger so he didn’t say anything nasty during his speech.
When he finally got up to address the crowd, he advised parents and students not to purchase the overpriced items at the fair.
“I’m sorry that it’s like this ladies and gentleman,” he said, as quoted by Sindonews. “Do not bring more children to this event as long as the price can not be lowered or cheaper than the market price.” said Ahok.
Although he refrained from using vulgar language in front of the kids, he did criticize the fair’s vendors, saying “It seems vulgar to me, that they would try to earn a profit off of people who can not afford it.”
The chairman of the Jakbook and Edu Fair Committee, Tatang Sundensyah, said that exhibitors had signed a statement that they had to sell school supplies below market prices.
“It may be that they (cheated),” Tatang said, as quoted by Kompas.
He said the fairs organizers will follow-up on complaints of overpriced books and supplies and will penalize those found to be selling over market prices.
