{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1723397,
        "msgid": "solution-to-fuel-price-hikes-improve-mass-transport-not-just-electric-conversion-1778156561",
        "date": "2026-05-07 12:22:00",
        "title": "Solution to Fuel Price Hikes: Improve Mass Transport, Not Just Electric Conversion",
        "author": "Agung Kurniawan",
        "source": "KOMPAS",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Infrastructure",
        "summary": "Transportation expert Ki Darmaningtyas argues that the panic over fuel price increases in Indonesia stems from the government's failure to provide affordable public transport alternatives, forcing reliance on private vehicles. He criticises the focus on converting private vehicles to electric as misguided, urging instead a massive overhaul of mass transit systems with subsidised electric buses distributed to underserved regions. Without addressing these root issues, traffic congestion and economic anxiety from energy price fluctuations will persist despite incentives for electric vehicles.",
        "content": "<p>JAKARTA \u2014 Fuel price hikes often become a terrifying spectre for\npeople in various regions. The waves of panic that emerge whenever this\npolicy is announced are not without reason. This situation results in\nlong queues at a number of petrol stations. Transportation expert from\nthe Institute for Transportation Studies (Instran) Ki Darmaningtyas\nbelieves the root of the problem lies in the government\u2019s failure to\nprovide humane and affordable mobility alternatives. The current state\nof public transportation in Indonesia appears lopsided. While Jakarta\ncontinues to beautify itself with the integration of MRT, LRT, and\nTransjakarta, other regions are experiencing setbacks. The absence of\nthese options forces people to rely on private vehicles, both cars and\nmotorbikes, to support their daily productivity. Ultimately, every\nfluctuation in fuel prices directly hits households hard. \u201cPeople\u2019s\ndependence on private vehicles is very high. So when fuel prices rise,\nthey automatically panic,\u201d said Darmaningtyas. Darmaningtyas also\nhighlighted the government\u2019s steps in responding to energy issues as\nmisguided. According to him, the government\u2019s focus on promoting the\nconversion of private fuel-based vehicles to electric is seen as a step\nthat does not address the substance of congestion and energy dependence\nproblems. He believes that the momentum of fuel price increases should\nbe a turning point for the government to massively improve mass\ntransportation. \u201cBut this has never been a lesson for the government. In\nsituations like this, the government should create smart programmes,\u201d\nsaid Darmaningtyas. He emphasised that subsidies or state budgets should\nbe allocated to strengthen the fleet of public transport in regions that\nhave long been neglected. \u201cBuying electric buses for public transport to\nbe distributed to all regions. Not converting fuel motorbikes to\nelectric motorbikes. The government seems to always repeat the follies\nthat have happened in the past,\u201d he stated. To date, the government is\nindeed aggressively promoting the electric vehicle ecosystem through\nvarious incentives. However, for experts, as long as those policies are\nstill oriented towards private vehicles, classic problems like\ncongestion and economic panic due to energy prices will continue to\nrecur in the future.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/solution-to-fuel-price-hikes-improve-mass-transport-not-just-electric-conversion-1778156561",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}