Illegal levies cause high operation costs: Ritonga<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): City Council Speaker M.H. Ritonga says the
\npolice must put an end to their habit of soliciting
\n\"contributions\" from the drivers of public transportation
\nvehicles, whose operational costs are now skyrocketing as a
\nresult.<\/p>\n
Ritonga, a former city police chief, said here yesterday that
\nthe police must not turn a blind eye to their behavior and stop
\nthe practices which are inflicting financial losses on the
\ntransportation companies.<\/p>\n
\"It is imperative to stop the imposition of illegal levies and
\nto punish the unscrupulous police officers,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He did not say, however, if the law was properly enforced when
\nhe was the chief of city police.<\/p>\n
Drivers in Jakarta routinely complain of the unofficial fines
\nthey have to fork over to police officers. Despite the widely-
\nknown practice, strong measures have never been taken by the city
\nauthorities.<\/p>\n
Ritonga was responding to a proposal by the organization of
\nland transportation company owners (Organda), which is asking for
\nhigher transportation fares to improve services.<\/p>\n
Organda said that most transit vehicles are in bad condition,
\nthat operational costs are too high and that they are struggling
\nto turn a profit on the current fares.<\/p>\n
Ritonga said that the city is unlikely to subsidize the
\ntransportation companies and that efforts to minimize operation
\ncosts are understandable and in need of support.<\/p>\n
\"Subsidizing the transportation sector is ideal. However, only
\ndeveloped countries such as Japan and France are able to do that.
\nJakarta still has other priorities which come first,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The city administration, he added, needs to allocate its
\nbudget wisely and give priority to the most important sectors.<\/p>\n
On Sunday Deputy Governor for Economic and Development Affairs
\nTb. M. Rais said the ideal way to overcome the public
\ntransportation problem is through subsidies, though a method has
\nyet to be determined.<\/p>\n
Organda responded, saying the government should be aware of
\nhigher spare part prices and of the fact that public
\ntransportation fares have not been increased since 1990.<\/p>\n
Until a subsidy is approved, the organization has suggested
\nthat the government compensate transportation companies by
\narranging loans for small enterprises, locally known as low-
\ninterest KUK. A reduction of tax rates and import duties on
\nimported spare parts are also being requested.<\/p>\n
\"Such compensation could reduce operational costs,\" Organda
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Organda is also proposing that the fares on regular buses be
\nincreased from Rp 250 (11 U.S. cents) to Rp 500, from Rp 550 to
\nRp 900 for Patas buses (quick, limited service), from Rp 300 to
\nRp 700 for minibuses and from Rp 1,300 to Rp 1,750 for air-
\nconditioned buses.<\/p>\n
Organda also suggested increasing the taxi flag-fall from Rp
\n900 to Rp 1,500 and that inter-city bus fares be determined on a
\nper kilometer basis. (yns)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/illegal-levies-cause-high-operation-costs-ritonga-1447893297",
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