Emission tests can result in bribery

Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Public transport drivers claim the gas emission tests that are in effect for public transport and are due to be imposed on private cars as part of vehicle registration requirement tests (STNK) are rarely enforced, because officials can be bribed to issue a document stating the vehicle had passed the test.

"Don't worry about the level of your car's emissions. As long as you can bribe them (the officials) you can always pass the test," said one broker, who offers STNK services in Pulo Gadung, East Jakarta on Tuesday.

He was commenting on the plan to require all private cars to undergo emission tests from this August onward, which was announced by the head of the city environmental control agency, Kosasih Wirahadikusumah, on Monday.

The office overseeing the vehicle roadworthiness test in Pulo Gadung, which is under the supervision of the city transportation agency, is authorized to test whether commercial and public vehicles are still roadworthy.

One prerequisite of vehicle roadworthiness is the level of gas emissions.

Tarjo, 45, a Bajaj driver from Pulo Gadung, told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday that his vehicle could pass the test for gas emissions, whether his vehicle had been checked or not.

Tarjo, however, would have to spend Rp 90,000 (US$9.68) for the registration fee and a broker. The amount is far higher than the normal fee to register for the vehicle roadworthiness test, which is only Rp 49,000.

Samsudin, 34, a driver of a public minivan operating between Tanah Abang and Kebayoran, and Tagor, 37, a driver of Mayasari city bus operating between Polo Gadung and Tanah Abang had a similar experience.

"It is so easy. By paying an additional fee of Rp 15,000 the problem is solved," said Samsudin, when asked about his experience when his vehicle encountered a "problem" with the roadworthiness test.

The broker living in Pesing subdistrict, West Jakarta, who refused to be identified, said that he could guarantee that every car owner asking for his assistance could pass the test.

"I've never failed to obtain a document stating that the vehicle has passed the test, even when the vehicles had very high emission levels. I can bribe the officials concerned," he said, adding that the cost of a bribe depended on the condition of the vehicles.

However, people who refuse to pay an additional fee to officials will encounter difficulties.

"I refused to pay Rp 27,000 as the document only requires Rp 25,000. They were not able to explain when I asked why I should pay more," Elis K, 35, an owner of eight Bajaj from Pegangsaan, Central Jakarta told the Post. As a result, she had to wait for two hours although there was no queue in the office.

An official involved in conducting the vehicle roadworthiness test, who requested anonymity, said that bribing in the office was common practice.

"If we apply the regulations strictly, no Bajaj could pass the roadworthiness test. We know that many people need the vehicles to earn a living," he argued.

Data from the city police office in 1998 shows that there are 3,876,562 vehicles in the capital consisting of 1,107,087 private cars, 379,605 commercial vehicles, 311,890 public transport vehicles and 2,007,980 motorcycles.

Transport emissions account for 65 percent of the capital's air pollution. Of that, private cars share 55 percent; motorcycles 26 percent and public and commercial transport 19 percent.