'Bajaj' owners say 'kancil' vehicles too expensive<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Bajaj (three-wheeled motorized vehicles) owners
\nlodged an official complaint with the city government on Monday
\nover the high installment payments on the four-wheeled kancil,
\nwhich are to replace the bajaj.<\/p>\n
The chairman of the Bajaj Transportation Owners Association,
\nTarjono, said the daily installment fee of Rp 40,000 (US$3.60)
\nfor the kancil was too high compared to the daily rental fee for
\na bajaj, which is Rp 30,000.<\/p>\n
"If we have to pay Rp 40,000 how can we survive?" he said
\nafter meeting with the producer of the kancil and Governor
\nSutiyoso at City Hall.<\/p>\n
A kancil costs about Rp 30 million, and with a daily
\ninstallment of Rp 40,000 can be paid off in three years.<\/p>\n
The producer of the kancil will buy bajaj for Rp 7.5 million
\neach, or half the price of a new vehicle.<\/p>\n
"We hope the city administration will postpone the plan to
\nreplace bajaj with kancil until we agree on the price," said
\nTarjono, who owns 50 bajaj.<\/p>\n
Another bajaj owner, Damanhuri, was of the same opinion,
\nadding that he preferred bajaj, which looked "stronger" than
\nkancil.<\/p>\n
He said the body of the kancil was made from fiberglass and
\nwould be difficult and expensive to repair compared to the iron-
\nplated body of the bajaj.<\/p>\n
"Many spare parts for the kancil are imported while bajaj
\nspare parts are easy to get and can be carried on a motorcycle,"
\nsaid Damanhuri, who owns 50 bajaj in East Jakarta.<\/p>\n
He said the kancil's 400 cc engine, which is located under the
\nbackseat, would be uncomfortable for passengers. The bajaj's
\nengine is located under the frontseat.<\/p>\n
Damanhuri also said the city administration's plan to use gas
\nto fuel kancil would cause problems because the city lacked
\nstations that sell gas.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the marketing director for kancil producer PT
\nKurnia Abadi Niaga Citra Indah Lestari, Kresna D. Abednego, said
\nhe was certain bajaj owners would be able to afford kancil.<\/p>\n
"We are still negotiating the price, but we have made sure the
\nprice is not too high for bajaj owners," Kresna said on Monday.<\/p>\n
He claimed 90 percent of the kancil's spare parts were made
\nlocally, while the remaining 10 percent, including the engine,
\nwere imported from Japan.<\/p>\n
During Monday's closed-door meeting, Sutiyoso insisted that
\nthe replacement program would not begin before bajaj owners and
\nthe kancil producer had reached an agreement on the price.<\/p>\n
"It would be better to cancel the program if bajaj owners are
\ngoing to suffer losses. I hope the owners will benefit or at
\nleast enjoy similar incomes," Sutiyoso was quoted as saying by
\ncity spokesman Muhayat.<\/p>\n
The government said earlier the kancil were expected to hit
\nthe streets within three months.<\/p>\n
At least 20,000 bajaj currently operate in the city, but only
\n14,000 are registered. (jun)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bajaj-owners-say-kancil-vehicles-too-expensive-1447893297",
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