Plan to buy buses from China opposed<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A transportation expert from Yogyakarta's Gajah
\nMada University, Heru Sutomo, urged the Jakarta city
\nadministration to be cautious in its plan to import buses from
\nChina.<\/p>\n
Heru told Governor Sutiyoso and his staff overseeing the plan
\nto ensure the imported buses would not burden the city
\nadministration and the private bus companies which would purchase
\nthe Chinese vehicles.<\/p>\n
He also hoped China could guarantee the after-sales service
\nfor the buses and would commit to the transfer of its technology
\nto maintain the buses to locals.<\/p>\n
"As long as the city administration can ensure these two
\nthings, there is no reason for the government to prohibit the
\nimport of the buses, a position taken last week by Minister of
\nIndustry and Trade Luhut B. Panjaitan.<\/p>\n
"If the ministry objects to the deal, maybe it's because they
\nhave an interest in protecting local production. If we are
\nallowed to have the technology afterward and reproduce it
\nourselves, there would be no problem in importing these buses,"
\nHeru said from Yogyakarta.<\/p>\n
Minister Luhut reportedly disapproves of the plan. "What's
\ngoing on here? (People) only want to take the easy way. If we can
\nconstruct (the buses) here, why should we import them?" he asked
\non Friday.<\/p>\n
In an open bid, the city administration appointed PT Dayu
\nBahtara Kurnia to handle the shipment of 3,000 buses from China
\nto replace the capital's aging fleet of buses.<\/p>\n
The company claimed the Chinese bus factory which produced the
\nvehicles would provide a lifetime warranty for the buses' spare
\nparts. (dja)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/plan-to-buy-buses-from-china-opposed-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}