Extortion at bus terminals

JAKARTA (JP): The City Land Transportation Agency has threatened to take firm action against unscrupulous workers at inter-city bus terminals who steal money from the sale of platform entrance tickets.

The head of the agency, JP Sepang, said yesterday that his office will not condone such action, which causes a drop in city revenues.

The city has four inter-city bus terminals: Lebak Bulus in South Jakarta, Kalideres in West Jakarta, Kampung Rambutan and Pulogadung in East Jakarta.

"All people who visit a bus terminal should buy a ticket at Rp 100 (43 U.S. cents) to enter the terminal compound. My office will investigate and take firm action against officers who refused to hand out a ticket and thus steal the money," Sepang said.

He was commenting on alleged fraud at the Pulogadung bus terminal in East Jakarta.

Earlier this week, a councilor from the United Development Party said money collected by Pulogadung bus terminal officials was not being handed in.

Saud Rahman claimed that each day the city could collect more than Rp 2.5 million from the terminal but the terminal management only gives half of the real amount.

Sepang said after checking with terminal officials that the amount of money handed over by the officials exactly matches the number of tickets sold.

"There is no corruption in Pulogadung bus terminal. The city receives Rp 2 million per day from platform fees," he said.

However, he did not dismiss the possibility that many terminal visitors do not receive tickets from platform staff, and that perhaps some goes directly into the staff's pockets.

Sepang did not reveal how much the three other inter-city bus terminals daily contribute to city revenues. (yns)