Commuters bemoan unfair minivan fares<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): With public minivan transportation fares
\nincreasing, today it was the commuters' turn to express
\ndissatisfaction over price rises as fares in some cities began to
\nspiral beyond the expected average.<\/p>\n
While most local administrations were endorsing a fare hike of
\naround 25 percent, passengers in some cities were being charged
\ndouble that rate.<\/p>\n
Many commuters in Jakarta were shocked on Tuesday to discover
\nthat their fare had escalated by as much as 30 percent, despite
\nthat fact that the city administration had not officially
\nendorsed a fare increase for angkot public minivans.<\/p>\n
One public minivan driver, Selamat Siahaan, who serves the
\nSenen-Kampung Melayu route in Central Jakarta, said he was asking
\nhis passengers to pay an extra Rp 200 on the usual fare of about
\nRp 700.<\/p>\n
\"I'm politely asking passengers to increase the fare because
\nof the fuel price hike. Some understand but others paid the extra
\ncost with a little grumble,\" Siahaan said.<\/p>\n
Another driver plying the Kebon Jeruk-Tanah Abang route said
\nhe had not increased the fare, but hoped that passengers would
\nvoluntarily give a little extra.<\/p>\n
\"I didn't ask for more, but I happily received it if
\npassengers gave extra,\" the driver said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso said the public transport fare
\nincrease was still being discussed and would be announced on
\nWednesday.<\/p>\n
He urged minivan drivers not to increase the fares before the
\nadministration's decision was announced.<\/p>\n
\"They will be given sanctions if they are found increasing the
\nfares,\" he warned, to apparent disregard.<\/p>\n
City Council speaker Edy Waluyo also urged the administration
\nto take stern action against drivers who were already charging
\nextra.<\/p>\n
In Bandung, West Java, despite the local administration
\nconsenting to raise fares for public transport minivans by 25
\npercent, some commuters were being charged higher increases than
\nthat on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Desri Muhardini, a student at the state-run Padjajaran
\nUniversity, said on Tuesday she was charged Rp 600, compared to
\nthe previous fare of Rp 400.<\/p>\n
\"I was so surprised because, logically, I only have to pay Rp
\n500 but the driver told me to pay Rp 600,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Wati, a housewife who lives in the Paledang housing complex,
\nsaid she and her neighbors had been charged Rp 1,200 instead of
\nthe regular fare of Rp 700.<\/p>\n
\"This is crazy! If I have to go out, I'll use a public bus
\nwho's fare is not affected by the fuel price hike,\" she said.<\/p>\n
West Java Governor R. Nuriana has ordered his subordinates to
\nclosely monitor the price rises as he feared public minivan
\ndrivers were using the opportunity to raise fares beyond the
\nagreed figure.<\/p>\n
\"It is unfortunate that we have not received any official
\ncomplaints from the public regarding fares being raised by more
\nthan 25 percent,\" the governor's assistant, Murtedjo, said.<\/p>\n
The government's decision to raise fuel prices by 30 percent
\nhas been met with demands from public minivan drivers to raise
\ntheir fares.<\/p>\n
Public buses operated by local administrations are subsidized
\nand have not increased their fares. The smaller minivans are
\nmostly privately operated and do not receive subsidies.<\/p>\n
In Makassar, South Sulawesi, the situation gradually returned
\nto normal on Tuesday after a massive strike by drivers on Monday.<\/p>\n
The local administration announced that fares could be
\nincreased by between 20 percent and 30 percent.<\/p>\n
Secretary of the Makassar administration Farid Suaib said the
\nnew fares were effective as of Tuesday, with special allowances
\ngiven to students.<\/p>\n
\"For public transport, the administration agrees to raise the
\nfare to Rp 900 and Rp 1,000 from the previous Rp 700, while for
\nstudents the fare is increased from Rp 500 to Rp 600,\" Farid
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
In Yogyakarta, Governor Sultan Hamengkubuwono X said the
\nadministration was still discussing a reasonable figure for the
\npublic transport fare hike.<\/p>\n
He admitted that many public minivans had raised fares
\nillegally but added that, \"there would not be any punishment
\nsince no new regulation on the fare had been ratified.\"<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, President Abdurrahman Wahid expressed sympathy for
\nthe suffering of the people as a result of the fuel price hike
\nbut suggested that implementation of the policy was the only way
\nto prevent a worsening of the economic crisis.<\/p>\n
The President also urged security forces and police to be more
\npatient when confronting protesters and allow them to express
\ntheir views.<\/p>\n
Separately, Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri also
\ndefended the fuel price hike, arguing that there was no other
\nchoice for the nation but to accept the policy.<\/p>\n
\"Ibu Megawati was not happy when she had to make the decision
\nbut there was no other option,\" Indonesian Democratic Party of
\nStruggle (PDI Perjuangan) deputy chairman Roy B. Janis said on
\nTuesday.<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security
\nAffairs Agum Gumelar called on students to be conscious of \"third
\nparties\" who may exploit their protests to create chaos.<\/p>\n
In a related development, House of Representatives Speaker
\nAkbar Tandjung called on students to remain patient because the
\nfuel price hike was aimed at reducing the state budget deficit
\nand allocating assistance to the needy.<\/p>\n
\"The withdrawal of the fuel subsidy is the best alternative at
\npresent to cover the state budget deficit, while a part of the
\nsubsidy will be given to the needy,\" he said. (team)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/commuters-bemoan-unfair-minivan-fares-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}