Government Urged to Strengthen National Road Maintenance Following ALS Bus Accident

JAKARTA - Member of DPR Commission V Saadiah Uluputty has urged the government to strengthen the maintenance of national roads in Indonesia. This comes after the Antar Lintas Sumatera (ALS) bus accident that killed 16 people, where initial investigations found that the bus driver was attempting to avoid a pothole on the road. The manoeuvre caused the bus to veer into the opposite lane and collide with an oncoming fuel tanker truck. “We must not let every tragedy end without systemic evaluation. If there is negligence in the maintenance of national roads, there must be clear accountability,” Saadiah stated in her comments, quoted on Friday (8/5/2026). She referenced provisions that impose criminal penalties on road authorities who neglect to repair damaged roads leading to loss of life. She then cited data from the Directorate General of Highway Development showing that approximately 33.45% of national roads in South Sumatra are in truly good condition. Therefore, she called for strengthened preservation budgets for roads so that repairs are no longer reactive after accidents occur. “We cannot wait for the next victim to act. Road safety must be the state’s top priority,” Saadiah stressed. Previously, an ALS bus collided with a tanker truck carrying oil owned by PT Serelaya in North Musi Rawas Regency, South Sumatra. The accident occurred on the Trans-Sumatra Highway in Karang Jaya Subdistrict, North Musi Rawas, on Wednesday afternoon (6/5/2026). The high-speed collision between the ALS bus and the tanker truck immediately sparked a fire. As a result of the accident, 16 people were declared dead. While avoiding the pothole, the bus turned right and immediately struck the oncoming oil tanker truck. Fire erupted immediately from the collision, subsequently burning and charring the entire bus and truck.