PT KAI loses Rp 48m for
\nfans riding for free<\/p>\n
Yuli Tri Suwarni
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nBandung<\/p>\n
State railway company PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) has
\nsuffered a loss of more than Rp 48 million (US$4,752) for
\nproviding free transportation for East Java-bound soccer fans.<\/p>\n
The company waived the fare for some 1,800 supporters of
\nSurabaya's Persebaya soccer team for their return to the East
\nJava capital after the Liga Mandiri national soccer league's
\nsemifinal match last Thursday. Persebaya lost 1-2 to Jakarta's
\nPersija in the match.<\/p>\n
\"We had no choice but to serve them. As a public
\ntransportation company, we have to suffer such a loss again,\"
\nGatot Wibowo, the company's chief of public relations said in
\nBandung on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Gatot said that the loss was based on the price of a single
\neconomy class ticket from Jakarta to Surabaya, which is Rp
\n27,000.<\/p>\n
The amount, he said, did not include the damage done to the
\nArgo Muria executive class train. The Argo Muria train, serving
\nthe Jakarta-Semarang route, was stoned at Tegal railway station,
\nCentral Java, by Persebaya supporters on their way home<\/p>\n
\"They stoned the Argo Muria because we rejected their demand
\nfor meals,\" he added.<\/p>\n
PT KAI always suffers losses from the supporters' behavior
\nwhen the Indonesian Soccer Association holds its annual national
\nsoccer league competition.<\/p>\n
As a state transportation company, Gatot said, PT KAI was
\nfaced with a social duty in providing the economy class service.<\/p>\n
\"But this kind of free service has to be stopped, because it
\nis counterproductive to our efforts to make a profit,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He called on the soccer association and the league match
\ncommittee to be more anticipative when holding soccer matches,
\nespecially in dealing with supporters. He suggested that the
\ncommittee seek sponsors who would pay transportation costs for
\nsupporters.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pt-kai-loses-rp-48m-for-1447899208",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}