Auto owners fuming over Pertamina move
Auto owners fuming over Pertamina move
JAKARTA (JP): Many vehicle owners in the capital feel they
have been cheated by Pertamina, which stopped adding an important
fuel modifier to gasoline sold in the country without a public
announcement.
Contacted by The Jakarta Post on Monday, some car owners
angrily demanded that the state oil and gas company, the sole
firm responsible for supplying petrol in the country, immediately
reverse its decision to terminate the import of Detergent III
Plus, previously added to fuel sold throughout Indonesia.
Senior advocate Abdul Hakim Garuda Nusantara, who showed his
surprise and upset over the controversial decision kept secret by
Pertamina until last week, asked that the state firm pay
compensation for the losses suffered by consumers, such as damage
caused to vehicle engines through the use of petrol lacking the
additive.
"Although the government would later review the policy (by
resuming imports of the additive), the government should still be
held responsible for the consumers by giving, for instance,
compensation payments to them," Abdul Hakim said.
According to the vice chairman of the Indonesian Customers
Association (YLKI), Agus Pambagio, Pertamina, by removing the
additive from the fuel without making a public announcement, had
acted negligently.
"Pertamina can be categorized as having cheated its customers.
"We will wait for the proper time to prepare the legal suit
against the state firm," Agus said on Monday.
Pertamina admitted to halting the import of Detergent III
Plus, one of three substances added to automotive gas for sale in
Indonesia, only last Thursday, three months after imposing the
decision on April 1 this year.
According to the firm's spokesman, Toto Suparto, the
termination of the import was determined by Pertamina's
government board of commissioners to save money.
The gas, sold nationwide, has reportedly already caused damage
to the engines of many cars. Particularly vulnerable are
expensive models, such as late-model BMWs, because of their
engines made to tight tolerances.
A number of people, including car experts and vehicle agents
here, have expressed anger over Pertamina's failure to publicly
announce it had discontinued the use of the fuel additive, used
to keep engines clean and avoid corrosion.
Toto said Pertamina "will soon evaluate the decision of the
halt to the import of the additive" if consumers were unhappy
with it.
When asked, many vehicle owners said they knew nothing about
the absence of Detergent III Plus in the gasoline.
"I really don't know," said Dedy, an owner of a Peugeot sedan.
M. Zen, who drives a Kijang minivan, said Pertamina had made
the wrong decision.
"It will cause damage to car components," said the employee of
city water company PDAM Jaya.
Atjai of Jelambar, West Jakarta, who has several cars, was
shocked with the news.
"Gosh, how could the government treat their citizens like
this?" the owner of a vehicle seat factory said.
Heru Suratman, an owner of a Toyota sedan, said: "Pertamina is
totally wrong for not informing the customers."
Fuel expert Anton L. Wartawan suggested that motor car owners
temporarily use the alternative Super TT fuel, which he said
probably still contains Detergent III Plus.
"Or just regularly take the engine every three months to the
repair shop," Anton said. (asa/ind/bsr)