Emission tests can result in bribery<\/p>\n
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Public transport drivers claim the gas emission tests that are
\nin effect for public transport and are due to be imposed on
\nprivate cars as part of vehicle registration requirement tests
\n(STNK) are rarely enforced, because officials can be bribed to
\nissue a document stating the vehicle had passed the test.<\/p>\n
"Don't worry about the level of your car's emissions. As long
\nas you can bribe them (the officials) you can always pass the
\ntest," said one broker, who offers STNK services in Pulo Gadung,
\nEast Jakarta on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
He was commenting on the plan to require all private cars to
\nundergo emission tests from this August onward, which was
\nannounced by the head of the city environmental control agency,
\nKosasih Wirahadikusumah, on Monday.<\/p>\n
The office overseeing the vehicle roadworthiness test in Pulo
\nGadung, which is under the supervision of the city transportation
\nagency, is authorized to test whether commercial and public
\nvehicles are still roadworthy.<\/p>\n
One prerequisite of vehicle roadworthiness is the level of gas
\nemissions.<\/p>\n
Tarjo, 45, a Bajaj driver from Pulo Gadung, told The Jakarta
\nPost on Tuesday that his vehicle could pass the test for gas
\nemissions, whether his vehicle had been checked or not.<\/p>\n
Tarjo, however, would have to spend Rp 90,000 (US$9.68) for
\nthe registration fee and a broker. The amount is far higher than
\nthe normal fee to register for the vehicle roadworthiness test,
\nwhich is only Rp 49,000.<\/p>\n
Samsudin, 34, a driver of a public minivan operating between
\nTanah Abang and Kebayoran, and Tagor, 37, a driver of Mayasari
\ncity bus operating between Polo Gadung and Tanah Abang had a
\nsimilar experience.<\/p>\n
"It is so easy. By paying an additional fee of Rp 15,000 the
\nproblem is solved," said Samsudin, when asked about his
\nexperience when his vehicle encountered a "problem" with the
\nroadworthiness test.<\/p>\n
The broker living in Pesing subdistrict, West Jakarta, who
\nrefused to be identified, said that he could guarantee that every
\ncar owner asking for his assistance could pass the test.<\/p>\n
"I've never failed to obtain a document stating that the
\nvehicle has passed the test, even when the vehicles had very high
\nemission levels. I can bribe the officials concerned," he said,
\nadding that the cost of a bribe depended on the condition of the
\nvehicles.<\/p>\n
However, people who refuse to pay an additional fee to
\nofficials will encounter difficulties.<\/p>\n
"I refused to pay Rp 27,000 as the document only requires Rp
\n25,000. They were not able to explain when I asked why I should
\npay more," Elis K, 35, an owner of eight Bajaj from Pegangsaan,
\nCentral Jakarta told the Post. As a result, she had to wait for
\ntwo hours although there was no queue in the office.<\/p>\n
An official involved in conducting the vehicle roadworthiness
\ntest, who requested anonymity, said that bribing in the office
\nwas common practice.<\/p>\n
"If we apply the regulations strictly, no Bajaj could pass the
\nroadworthiness test. We know that many people need the vehicles
\nto earn a living," he argued.<\/p>\n
Data from the city police office in 1998 shows that there are
\n3,876,562 vehicles in the capital consisting of 1,107,087 private
\ncars, 379,605 commercial vehicles, 311,890 public transport
\nvehicles and 2,007,980 motorcycles.<\/p>\n
Transport emissions account for 65 percent of the capital's
\nair pollution. Of that, private cars share 55 percent;
\nmotorcycles 26 percent and public and commercial transport 19
\npercent.<\/p>",
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