Bus operators threaten to hike fares arbitrarily

JAKARTA (JP): Dissatisfied with the City Council's decision on bus fares, bus operators in the capital threatened on Monday to increase fares by 57 percent starting on Tuesday, in accordance with a proposal from Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso.

Bus operators grouped under the city's Organization of Land Transportation Owners (Organda) told a meeting with the City Council's Commission D for development affairs that they rejected the council's recommendation on the fare hike.

Organda executive Putu Wirta Antara asserted that the council's recommendation to increase bus fares by a maximum of 30 percent would not cover bus operators' operating costs.

"The increase recommended by the council is too low. We will follow the governor's proposal," Putu, who is also chief of Kopaja bus cooperative, told reporters.

Sutiyoso proposed to the council on Wednesday that bus fares be increased by between 30 percent and 60 percent following the increase in fuel prices.

The council, however, slashed the proposed increase levels to between 14 percent and 30 percent.

Based on the council's recommendation, bus fares would increase from Rp 500 to Rp 650 for regular buses, from Rp 700 to Rp 800 for mini buses like Kopaja and Metromini and from Rp 2,500 to Rp 3,000 for air-conditioned buses (Patas). The bus fare for students would increase from Rp 200 to Rp 250.

Organda had proposed a higher increase in bus fares of up to 100 percent.

The council's Commission D chairman Sayogo Hendrosubroto expressed his concern over threats from bus operators to stage a strike or to increase bus fares arbitrarily.

"They should not issue threats. They cannot increase the bus fares arbitrarily before the governor makes a decision on the fares," Sayogo of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle said.

He contended that the percentage increase recommended by the council was based on the increase in fuel prices and spare parts.

He reiterated that the council also considered the interests of the people, who were still suffering due to the economic crisis and rising prices of various goods and services.

"Of course bus companies want a higher increase, but we also have to consider public demand for a lower increase," Sayogo remarked.

Governor Sutiyoso canceled again his scheduled announcement of the new bus fares slated for Monday evening because he had not yet received the recommendation letter from the council.

A source at City Hall said that Sutiyoso was especially upset by the council's decision on bus fares, saying that the increase recommended by the council was too low and difficult to apply.

"An increase from Rp 500 to Rp 650 would be difficult to implement as it's difficult to find Rp 50 coins," the official said.

City deputy governor for development affairs Budihardjo Sukmadi said that the city administration would discuss the bus fare increase with the council.

"The increase might be announced tomorrow," Budihardjo told reporters on Monday evening. (jun)