City insists on going ahead with Kijang taxis

City insists on going ahead with Kijang taxis

The city administration intends to go ahead with plans to allow
six-passenger Toyota Kijang taxis to operate despite the already
fierce competition among taxi operators in the capital.

However, the plan has been put on hold following the
administration receiving letters that contradict each other from
the Ministry of Communications' Directorate General of Land
Transportation.

The city administration financial affairs office head Sukri
Bey said that his office had received a letter from the
directorate general opposing the plan, but in another letter the
directorate general approved it.

"We will seek clarification on both letters," he said.

The first letter, dated Oct. 1, 2003 and signed by Director of
Traffic and Land Transportation Anton S Tampubolon on behalf of
Director General Iskandar Abubakar, says the directorate general
rejects the plan on the grounds that only sedans are allowed to
be used as taxis.

The second letter, dated July 13, 2004, signed by Director
General Iskandar supports the plan. The letter says the operation
of Kijang taxis would meet the need for taxis that could carry
more passengers than sedans.

Sukri said his office planned to meet with officials from the
directorate general on Monday for clarification.

There are currently 30 taxi operators in the capital operating
around 21,000 taxis. -- JP