Governor sets aside Rp 50m to drive 'becak' out of city

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso was forced yesterday to set aside Rp 50 million (US$3,333) to pay to transport becak (pedicabs) from Jakarta to whence they came.

Sutiyoso said he had channeled the necessary funds to all the city's five mayoralties with each receiving Rp 10 million.

"I've also instructed the city's sanitation agency to provide trucks," he said.

He strongly denied media reports that the city administration was unable to pay to send the man-powered vehicles home. "Please don't manipulate my remarks on the issue.

"As I repeatedly said I only allowed the operation of pedicabs which were already in the city and it's only temporary," he said.

The governor announced on June 25 that he was allowing the three-wheeled vehicles to operate again after they had been banned for 10 years in a bid to enable unemployed people to make money during the economic crisis.

However, he changed his mind on Tuesday and revoked his own decision on the pedicabs on the grounds that the drivers had violated forbidden areas by operating not only in alleys and small streets but on major thoroughfares as well.

It turned out to be that scores of pedicabs had been transported into the city from other towns, including Tangerang, Serang and Indramayu.

According to data from the city's five mayoralties, 1,238 pedicabs have been brought back to the city as soon as Sutiyoso announced his decision.

West Jakarta Mayor Sutardjianto and Central Jakarta Mayor Andi Subur Abdullah said yesterday that they were ready to help transport the pedicabs back to the cities of origin.

Sutardjianto said the money from the governor would be used to finance the transportation of 500 pedicabs, including Rp 7,500 to be given to each driver.

This allowance was criticized by Lukman Mokoginta, the head of the Indonesian Democratic Party faction on the City Council.

"The governor should give them at least the same amount as the price of the pedicabs. It is fair as they came here because of the governor's announcement," he said.

Sutardjianto said that of the 500 pedicabs, 273 would be transported to Indramayu and Cirebon in West Java, and to Tegal and Pemalang in Central Java and the rest to Tangerang, Bekasi and Bogor.

Andi said that his mayoralty was collecting data on the pedicabs. It is thought 288 were brought into Central Jakarta. (ind)