Consumer group battles water giants over poor service
Consumer group battles water giants over poor service
Urip Hudiono, Jakarta
The Jakarta Water Consumers Community (Komparta) insisted that
water firms PT Thames PAM Jaya (TPJ) and PT PAM Lyonnaise Jaya
(Palyja) be held legally responsible for any public losses caused
by their poor service.
In a summation of its class action suit against the firms on
Wednesday, Komparta reiterated its demand that the Central
Jakarta District Court find TPJ and Palyja guilty of violating
Law No. 8/1999 on consumer protection, through their neglect of
complaints from the public and losses caused by their
incompetence in providing a reasonable service to customers.
As evidence for its charges, Komparta pointed out complaints
from customers in Tomang, Klender, Menteng Atas Dalam and Rawa
Badak on poor water quality and repeated shortages. It also
complained at the firm's billing system, with recurring charges
for paid bills and charges for water its members had not used.
"Due to the poor service, consumers had water for a limited
period and had to buy bottled water for drinking," Komparta
lawyer J.J. Armstrong Sembiring read in the summation.
Komparta also questioned the water firms' accountability,
particularly on the right of the public to supervise the
management of public funds and on water rate policies.
TPJ is a joint venture between city-run water firm PD PAM Jaya
and British holding company Thames Water International, while
Palyja links PD PAM Jaya with French firm Lyonnaise des Eaux.
"The firms' pipelines that use plastic composite pipes can be
considered a waste of public funds because copper or stainless
steel pipes are needed for drinking water," Armstrong said.
Komparta filed its suit last June, following the firms'
decision to increase water rates despite numerous complaints that
they had done nothing to improve the service.
Komparta has demanded compensation of Rp 990 million
(US$105,319) for material losses and Rp 1 billion in nonmaterial
damages. It also demanded the firms publish a public apology to
consumers in several major media.
In their summation, TPJ and Palyja requested the court reject
Komparta's arguments.
TPJ lawyer Yoseph B. Badeoda said much evidence provided by
Komparta was irrelevant to the case.
"Komparta has also failed to provide any convincing argument
and evidence to prove that the firms have indeed broken the law,"
he said.
The firms also questioned Komparta's survey on their
performance as it had not been carried out by an independent
agency, as well as testimonies from expert witnesses, as they
were not consumers who had experienced poor service themselves.
The trial was adjourned to July 7 to hear the verdict.