Bus firms asked not to raise tariff

JAKARTA: Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso asked all transportation companies on Monday to refrain from raising their tariffs until he issued a decree, adding that anyone found increasing rates before that time would lose their permits.

He said that the city transportation agency would launch random inspections of several buses to ensure compliance.

"If anyone is found guilty of anything illegal, then we'll revoke their operating permits," he said.

The governor added that the city administration had already set up a team to examine the possibility of raising the transportation tariff, following the government's announcement that fuel prices would be increased by an average of 22 percent.

Speaking to the press in the Merdeka Palace on Monday, he said that the special team would consist of the city administration, the Organization of Transportation Owners' Association (Organda), and the Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI).

The team, he said, would determine whether it was necessary to increase the tariff, and by how much it would be raised.

"We actually don't want the rate to be raised, but should it be raised, it should be made as low as possible."

According to Sutiyoso, the team will finalize its study within the next two weeks.--JPn routinely paying for KDM's monthly expenses. --JP