Eight motorbikes returned to DLLAJ in poor condition

JAKARTA (JP): Head of the City Traffic and Land Transportation Agency (DLLAJ) Rustam Effendy said on Monday that eight of 11 Harley Davidson motorbikes privately used by former and current officials, have been returned but most of them are in poor condition.

"The eight motorbikes have been returned. They are now in DLLAJ's warehouses," Rustam told reporters at City Hall, without mentioning when the motorbikes were returned.

He said most of the eight motorbikes, which were used to guard presidents and prime ministers during the 1992 Non-Aligned Movement Summit here, were damaged.

He said the remaining three motorbikes were deployed for official use for City Governor Sutiyoso, deputy governor for administrative affairs Abdul Kahfi and head of the City's Social and Political Agency Dodi Sudarno.

"I have signed letters about the official use of the three motorbikes," Rustam said.

Besides Sutiyoso, Kahfi and Dodi, according to DLLAJ's record, former governor Wiyogo Admodarminto, City Council chairman Edy Waluyo, councillor Ali Imran Husein and six DLLJ's officials also "borrowed" the motorbikes.

A source said Edy's Harley was returned a day before the controversial news was broadcast by newspapers on Friday, while the remaining seven motorbikes were quickly returned over the following days.

Meanwhile, councillor Ali of the United Development Party (PPP) admitted that he had asked the former chief of DLLAJ, Buyung Atang, to loan him the motorbike.

"But the motorbike was stripped bare of its parts and accessories. It only had two tires and its frame left," Ali told reporters.

He later returned it after he learned from a workshop on Jl. Kebon Sirih, Central Jakarta that the repair work would cost him Rp 90 million (US$10,000).

He regretted that DLLAJ forgot to delete his name from the list of officials who borrowed the bikes.

"I haven't even had a chance to touch the motorbike. I have contacted DLLAJ, they have apologized for this," he said.

Ali's opinion was that the news was spread by another councillor who wanted to have the motorbike but found that none of them were available.

"I know the councillor. He was just disappointed because he did not get the motorbike," he said, without mentioning the name of the councillor.

Separately, councillor Audi I.Z. Tambunan of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) doubted that the 11 motorbikes had been returned.

"I checked the warehouse this morning, the motorbikes have not been returned," said Audi, who chairs the party's faction at the council.

He also criticized Effendy for allowing Sutiyoso, Kahfi and Dodi to borrow the bikes, especially as Kahfi and Dodi were never officially guarded.

He rebuked DLLAJ for the lack of transparency regarding the motorbikes. If the office plans to sell them at auction, this should be held openly, he said.

According to government regulations, a piece of government property can only be auctioned 10 years after it is bought. It means that the motorbikes could be auctioned next year. (jun)