Bus owners threaten to halt operations<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Public transportation owners on Tuesday
\nthreatened to stop operating and hand over the transportation
\nbusiness in the capital to the government if the latter is unable
\nto help lower the skyrocketing prices of spare parts.<\/p>\n
Aip Sjarifudin, chairman of the Jakarta chapter of the
\nOrganization of Land Transportation Owners (Organda DKI), said
\nthat the operators were forced to articulate the threat as the
\ngovernment had not responded to their complaints.<\/p>\n
He said that the operators had been repeatedly urging the
\ngovernment for some time to offer a type of subsidy so as to
\nenable them to get the spare parts at cheaper prices.<\/p>\n
\"If the government is reluctant to do so, then it's better for
\nthe government to take over and manage the business by itself as
\nthe operators can no longer survive in the current conditions,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Organda DKI is currently overseeing the operation of 10 bus
\ncompanies, namely Mayasari Bakti, Bianglala, Steady Safe, Giri
\nIndah, Kopaja, Metro Mini, Kopami Jaya, Koantas Bima, AJA and
\nHimpurna with a total fleet of 8,500 medium sized and large
\nbuses.<\/p>\n
Aip said that the operators were waiting for the realization
\nof the government's plan to provide cheap spare parts for public
\ntransportation.<\/p>\n
Promise<\/p>\n
The government promised earlier to provide a kind of nation-
\nwide subsidy for the purchase of spare parts through an
\nallocation of funds amounting to Rp 220 billion (US$20 million),
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
\"In a meeting between the operators and officials of the
\nNational Development Planning Board and the Ministry of
\nCommunications on Sept. 18, however, no clear information was
\navailable about whether the subsidy would be provided soon,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The price of spare parts, which depend largely on imports, has
\ntripled over the past few months due to the tumbling rupiah
\nagainst the U.S. dollar.<\/p>\n
Aip also said that Organda had sent a letter to the Ministry
\nof Trade and Industry, requesting that public transportation
\ncooperatives be permitted to directly import the spare parts as a
\nway to lower the prices, \"but not a single response was made,\"
\nAip said.<\/p>\n
Organda have also reminded the government to help lower the
\nprice of spare parts to avoid the possibility of massive strikes
\nby public transportation drivers for fear of creating unrest
\nsimilar to that which occurred in Medan, North Sumatra.<\/p>\n
A massive strike by thousands of public transportation drivers
\ncrippled Medan on Sept. 14, during which they protested not only
\nagainst the rising prices of spare parts but also price hikes of
\nbasic commodities.<\/p>\n
Many of the striking drivers vandalized local properties.<\/p>\n
The ensuing chaotic situation allowed a mob the opportunity to
\nloot a local shopping center as well.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Minister of Cooperatives and Small Enterprises Adi
\nSasono said on Tuesday that he supported an idea allowing the
\npublic transportation cooperatives to directly import spare
\nparts.<\/p>\n
\"(Direct import through cooperatives) is badly needed. I will
\nfight for and discuss it with other related institutions,\" he
\nsaid. (ind)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bus-owners-threaten-to-halt-operations-1447893297",
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