'Bajaj' owners to operate 'kancil'

Damar Harsanto, Jakarta

About 600 owners of bajaj (three-wheeled motorized taxi) agreed on Monday to replace their Indian-made vehicles with the new four-wheeled kancil (literally meaning mouse deer), following the issuance of a license by Governor Sutiyoso.

"The bajaj owners have agreed to replace their old vehicles with the kancil," the Jakarta Transportation Agency head Rustam Effendy Sidabutar told reporters on Monday.

Rustam along with around 20 bajaj drivers and owners held a press conference at City Hall.

Rustam, however, did not mention how many bajaj would be replaced.

A total of 14,612 bajaj have been registered in the city since 1976.

In a letter signed by Deputy Governor Fauzi Bowo on May 24, the administration approved the initial operation of 250 kancil citywide starting in July. This will be followed by the withdrawal of 250 of the older bajaj vehicles.

Rustam reiterated Sutiyoso's order that the replacement would be carried out in phases.

According to Rustam, the plan to replace the bajaj has been in the works since 1982 because the vehicles produce thick, black smoke contributing to the worsening air quality in the city, besides being extremely noisy.

The administration stopped issuing new permits for bajaj in 1986, but allowed the operation of the existing bajaj in the city.

Erwin Tasivin, who owns 28 bajaj operating in South Jakarta, said that he had no choice but to replace his bajaj with kancil.

"I'm afraid that if I keep operating my bajaj, my earnings will be slashed significantly due to the presence of kancil which is more comfortable, is quieter and produces less pollution," he said.

Erwin said he had asked his bajaj drivers to try out the kancil for a month to facilitate the replacement.

"So far, there has been no complaint (from the drivers) about kancil," he said.

At least 2,000 bajaj drivers and owners staged a rally in front of City Hall last Wednesday, opposing the administration's plan to replace the bajaj.

They rejected the operation of kancil, arguing that the operation of the new vehicles would reduce their income significantly. Bajaj drivers also complained that kancil was not as powerful and sturdy as the bajaj.

Kancil is assembled by local company PT Kurnia Abadi Niaga Citra Indah Lestari.