City cuts sticker price but commuters may not benefit

JAKARTA (JP): City administration will cut the one-day Rp 5,000 traffic sticker to Rp 2,500 in response to mounting protests against a plan to implement the sticker system in lieu of the current three-in-one traffic regulation, an official said.

The deputy governor for administrative affairs, Abdul Kahfi, said over the weekend that the Rp 2,500 sticker would be valid only for a half day.

He said motorists intending to enter the restricted area along Jl. Jend. Sudirman and Jl. M.H. Thamrin, Central Jakarta, in the afternoon would be required to buy another sticker at Rp 2,500. He said the monthly sticker price would remain at Rp 80,000.

"The reduction of the tariff is made mainly in response to the people's objections," he said.

Kahfi said the administration has never considered the people's objections as insignificant.

The sticker system, which the President has endorsed in principle, has been the target of stinging criticism from many quarters since news about the plan was mentioned in the media earlier this year.

The plan requires vehicles to bear stickers when entering Jl. M.H. Thamrin and Jl. Jend. Sudirman from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on work days.

City Council announced last month it would invite comments regarding the highly controversial traffic sticker system and the administration for input before it seals the plan with a bylaw.

Kahfi said the administration has received the council's invitation but refused to say when it would be put into effect.

"We welcome the dialog, where, with this chance, we will try to be more communicative. We'll inform people as clearly as possible and also listen to their comments," he said.

A source said yesterday that the meeting would be held over two days, starting today.

Those to be invited include a special team on the sticker system led by Kahfi; observers, such as law expert Yusril Ihza Mahendra and chairman of the Indonesian Transportation Society Suyono Dikun, and two non-governmental organizations: Lintas Informal dan Pengkajian and Swadaya Exponen 66.

Two other NGOs, which continuously criticize the plan, the Indonesian Consumers Foundation and the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta) were not invited, the source said.

LBH Jakarta's director, Apong Herlina, said this showed the council was not willing to hold discussions with parties that are highly critical of the plan. (ind)