Discount spare parts offered

JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta Military Command in cooperation with the Association of Indonesian Automotive Industries (Gaikindo) held yesterday a market operation selling spare parts for 30 percent less to owners of public transportation vehicles.

The two-day market operation at the Pulomas field in East Jakarta also provided a free service for 900 minivans, which come under the auspices of the city chapter of the Organization of Land Transportation Owners (Organda).

The free services were provided by five authorized car distributors for Suzuki, Isuzu, Daihatsu, Mitsubishi and Toyota, a Gaikindo executive said.

Col. (ret) F. Soeseno, Gaikindo's secretary general, said the market operation was held with the aim of reducing the burden on minivan drivers, who have complained about the escalating prices of spare parts.

"We hope the public transportation companies do not increase their fares as they can obtain spare parts at discounted rates and free services."

The public transportation companies proposed to Organda last week that fares for city buses and minibuses increase between 70 percent and 150 percent to compensate for the prices of spare parts, which have reportedly soared up to 300 percent due to the monetary crisis.

Owners of Kopaja minibuses proposed last week to raise fares from Rp 400 to Rp 1,000 per passenger, while Pahala Kencana, a private operator of wide-bodied buses also asked permission to hike the tariffs of its regular buses from Rp 300 to Rp 500 per head. (09)