Bus stations to take action against unsafe buses
JAKARTA (JP): All city bus terminals have been authorized to fine unsafe buses and unlicensed bus drivers.
"I have asked the heads of all Jakarta terminals to immediately ticket every bus they find guilty of not fulfilling the prescribed regulations," said J.P. Sepang, the head of the City Land Transportation and Traffic Control Office, at the City Council yesterday.
Sepang added that 194 Metromini buses have been impounded by his office for a number of violations by their drivers.
The most common violations are driving without a uniform, driving without a license and not having their route identification card (kartu trayek), Sepang said.
"Yesterday I caught red-handed a Metromini driver without driving documents who had driven the bus for three days," Sepang pointed out, "which makes it clear that he is an illegal part- time driver".
Sepang, when asked by The Post to respond to the Metromini owners' complaints of overly harsh public scrutiny of the company, said it was their own fault.
The public are tired of the firm because they too often neglect the driving regulations and endanger public safety, Sepang said.
Eleven owners of Metromini minibuses blasted the continual public scrutiny of their company on Wednesday as "cruel".
In a meeting with city councilors the minibus owners said it was detrimental to the survival of their company.
Attacked
Six Metromini minibuses were burned and damaged in Jagakarsa, South Jakarta, on March 18. The incident took place when an angry mob, misled by reports that an area resident found dead at the minibus pool had been struck by a Metromini, attacked the buses.
The public wrath directed towards Metromini came following the Metromini crash on March 6 which left 33 passengers dead and several more injured.
"Is it fair that we should bear the burden of the deed of that reckless driver, and that because of him our company, which involves the livelihood of many people, has fallen into disrepute?" Siantar Nainggolan, one of the owners, said in anger.
Members of the public have pointed out that poor central administration and other structural factors at the firm are a big part of the problem.
Siantar also questioned the motives behind the plan of North Jakarta Mayor Suprawito to erect a monument named "The Deadly Metromini Monument".
According to Siantar, such a monument would only remind people of the March 6 accident and stir up their hatred and vengeance every time they see it.
Suprawito said should the monument be erected, it will serve as a warning to all drivers, especially Metromini drivers, that such an accident should never happen again.
"So, what's wrong with it?" Suprawito said, adding that he does not mean to discredit Metromini owners.
Mulyono Hadi, another owner, was angry with the sub-divisional head of the Land Transportation and Traffic Office (DLLAJR), Herman Tonglo Langi.
It was he who said that it was not clear whether Metromini was a limited liabilities company or whether it was a cooperative.
According to Mulyono, Herman's statement, which appeared in Kompas daily on Monday, has caused reluctance on the part of banks to provide them with new loans or prolong their loans. (06)