Sticker project turns sticky over supervision<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Consumers Foundation has stated
\nthat fairness in awarding tenders should be top of the agenda if
\nthe private sector is involved in managing the planned sticker
\nsystem in restricted traffic areas.<\/p>\n
Agency chairwoman Tini Hadad said Saturday that failure to do
\nso by the city administration would draw public condemnation.<\/p>\n
\"The administration should set tough requirements for the job,
\nand punitive actions to be taken in case the firm fails to honor
\nits commitment should be spelled out,\" she told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
The administration has yet to decide whether it will involve
\nthe private sector in managing the project, which will be tried
\nout in August.<\/p>\n
There has been speculation that PT Wijaya Wisesa, a company
\nowned by former Jakarta deputy governor Eddy Nalapraya, may be a
\nfront-runner for a contract.<\/p>\n
Critics argue the sticker system will be a show of government
\nfavoritism toward the rich who can afford to buy the stickers,
\nand that it would merely serve to divert jams from the restricted
\nzone to other streets.<\/p>\n
The company has reportedly proposed charging Rp 5,000 for a
\nsticker allowing a single entry into the restricted zone, Rp
\n8,000 for a day pass and Rp 100,000 for one valid for a month.<\/p>\n
The system is intended to replace the three-in-one regulation,
\nwhich has been largely ineffective in easing traffic congestion.
\nUnder the system, a private car entering the restricted area
\nshould carry at least three people.<\/p>\n
Many motorists hire the services of children, known as
\njockeys, to enable them to meet the 1992 stipulation. The
\nrestricted zone covers Jl. Thamrin, Jl. Sudirman and Jl. Gatot
\nSubroto.<\/p>\n
Trials of the new system will take place in the zone from
\nAugust to November on workdays from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., and
\nbetween 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.<\/p>\n
Motorists will be required to display valid stickers on their
\nwindshields upon entering the restricted zones.<\/p>\n
Tini said sticker prices should not be more than Rp 2,000, the
\namount a motorist would normally pay for a jockey in the
\nthree-in-one system.<\/p>\n
\"More expensive stickers would only make the system a
\nprivilege for the wealthy who can afford to buy them,\" she said.
\n\"It would be discriminative toward the ordinary people.\"<\/p>\n
Rusdi Muchtar, a sociologist from the Indonesian Institute of
\nSciences, rejected the idea of using a private firm because he
\nclaimed its priority would be profit over public welfare.<\/p>\n
\"It's just natural that a company is profit-oriented,\" Rusdi
\nwas quoted by Antara as saying.<\/p>\n
He said any private-sector involvement in the project would
\nonly lead to more problems, such as supervision and
\naccountability of the funds collected from the sticker sales.<\/p>\n
Replacing the three-in-one system with the sticker system is
\nregrettable because of its effects on the poor, he added.<\/p>\n
\"Many poor people will lose their jobs as jockeys and the
\nmoney will go to the wealthy people if the management is
\nentrusted to a private company.\" (jun)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sticker-project-turns-sticky-over-supervision-1447893297",
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