DKI Jakarta DPRD Member Calls for Utility Cable Audit After Fatal Accident
A member of the DKI Jakarta Regional People’s Representative Council (DPRD), Hardiyanto Kenneth, has urged the Provincial Government to carry out a comprehensive audit of overhead cable networks in the capital. The call follows the death of 16-year-old SMAN 6 student Neisha Amalia Evrian Putri, who was killed in an accident caused by a dangling cable on Jalan Leuser, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta.
Kenneth described the tragedy as a serious warning sign of weak oversight and poor utility management in Jakarta. “I extend my deepest condolences to the victim’s family. This is not just an ordinary accident, but an indication of negligence in infrastructure management that endangers the public,” he said on Tuesday.
He demanded the Jakarta administration thoroughly investigate the incident, including identifying the party responsible for the dangling cable. Kenneth stressed that public safety must be the top priority and called for strict sanctions if negligence by the utility owner is proven.
“This case must not end with mere expressions of concern. There must be an evaluation and clear accountability. If negligence is found, the utility company must be sanctioned according to the prevailing regulations,” the PDIP politician stated.
Kenneth noted that the problem of tangled overhead cables in Jakarta is not new, reflecting weak implementation of existing rules. He pointed out that Jakarta already has Regional Regulation No. 8 of 2025 on Utility Network Placement, which mandates the relocation of overhead cables underground.
“The bylaw exists, but supervision is weak. Therefore, a total audit is needed to map vulnerable points and ensure all utility owners comply with safety standards,” he said.
The Commission C councillor also pushed for an evaluation of utility management and the oversight conducted by relevant regional agencies. He argued that overlapping authorities have prevented the resolution of the overhead cable problem. “Jakarta needs a single command for utility supervision to stop the passing of responsibility. Public safety must be the priority,” he asserted.
Beyond the audit, Kenneth called for a large-scale operation to remove dangling cables that endanger road users. He also urged the acceleration of the programme to relocate overhead cables to underground networks as a permanent solution. “Jakarta is moving towards becoming a global city. It is deeply ironic that a resident can lose their life because of a dangling cable on the road. The underground cabling programme must be accelerated and strictly supervised,” he concluded.