Fuel price hike makes life harder, drivers say

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The government's fuel price rises have dealt a blow to public transportation drivers who are complaining that the hike has slashed profit margins.

Drivers of bajaj (three-wheeled motorized pedicabs), taxis and public buses criticized the controversial decision, saying the price increases of an average of 22 percent had further burdened them.

"We have to spend more money to buy fuel and that means our daily margin is reduced," Juned, one of the drivers, told The Jakarta Post on Friday.

Juned, a bus driver of Mikrolet M-66 serving the Blok M- Manggarai route, said that the hike had caused their diesel fuel spending to balloon to Rp 90,000 a day from only Rp 72,000 a day.

The government raised the price of diesel fuel from Rp 900 a liter to Rp 1,150 a liter on Wednesday.

He said the bus crews shared the additional fuel costs, reducing their daily net income to an average Rp 70,000.

Juned's friend, Tiono, said they must pay a daily rent of Rp 250,000 every day to the bus owner.

Taxu and bajaj drivers also complained even though gasoline prices increased slightly to Rp 1,550 from Rp 1,450.

"Due to the fuel price hike, many people are discouraged from using our services now," said taxi driver Nurhusin.

Bajaj driver, Tardan, also complained saying some passengers did not care and just paid the old fare.

Many public transport drivers seemed reluctant to increase their rates as they feared it might discourage people from using their services.

"The fare may increase but many customers will refuse to pay," said Juned.

He said that although the bus fare had been raised to Rp 900, many passengers still paid Rp 700 or even Rp 500.

Ine, a bus passenger, who works for a foreign firm, said that the bus fare remained unchanged despite the rise.

"Everyday, I use executive Patas bus No. 44, 57, B-1 Blok M- Kota and I still pay the old fare of Rp 3,300," she said.

Ine added that sometimes when she took a public minivan she still paid Rp 500.

But reportedly, public transportation drivers in Bogor had increased their fares even before the government announced the price rises.