Commuters Urge Transjakarta to Handle Passenger Issues Professionally After Body Odour Incident

Lidia, 26, a private sector worker who uses Transjakarta daily, has criticised the way staff handled a passenger who was allegedly causing discomfort due to body odour. She stated that while the comfort of all passengers must be maintained, the actions of officers should be carried out professionally and with respect for individual dignity. She believes the situation should not have escalated to an action that potentially humiliated someone in public. “If there is a passenger disturbing comfort because of body odour, I think officers should still handle it in a professional manner. Do not make that person feel humiliated in front of other passengers,” she said when met by Media Indonesia on Tuesday. According to Lidia, officers could speak to the passenger privately in a more secluded area so the issue can be resolved without causing stigma. Echoing this sentiment, Rama, 27, a private sector worker in West Jakarta, said PT Transjakarta must have a solution for handling such matters. He gave an example that if action needs to be taken, such as asking a passenger to disembark due to other passengers’ complaints, officers must be ready to provide a solution. “Don’t be clumsy and immediately shout. They could ask the passenger to disembark and then the officer takes responsibility for sending the passenger home by motorcycle, for instance, according to their destination,” he explained. “So it’s a true win-win solution. It seems Transjakarta is clumsy in handling such things,” he concluded. PT Transportasi Jakarta has apologised for the incident involving an officer removing a passenger at the Kampung Melayu bus stop and has promised to evaluate its service standard operating procedures.