Govt to replace KAI management
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The government is planning to replace the management of state train operator PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) due to its failure to prevent accidents as well as to improve the company.
State Minister of State Enterprises Sugiharto said the high number of train crashes and the expiry of the tenure of the incumbent management in June were the main reasons behind the replacement plan.
"The reshuffle will take place immediately. However, we still need time for the (replacement) plan," he was quoted as saying by Antara news agency on Saturday in Bandung during a meeting with a number of executives of state enterprises.
Sugiharto, however, refused to name the candidates for the KAI management as well as when the reshuffle would take place. At present, Oemar Berto leads the KAI.
"We should see the reason for the reshuffle in a more comprehensive way... It (the reshuffle) is necessary because the government is reviewing the operations and business of PT KAI as well as our railway system," he said.
Sugiharto said that aside from replacing the directors, there should also be comprehensive measures to rehabilitate the railway infrastructure managed by the company in order to improve its service and capacity.
Elsewhere, Vice President Jusuf Kalla said on Sunday that the government should intervene in helping to solve PT KAI's complex problems.
"PT KAI has numerous problems, from infrastructure, subsidy, consumers bad habit of not paying tickets and many more. The company needs thorough improvement. Therefore, the government is assigning the state minister of state enterprises and minister of transportation to help solve the problems," he said as quoted by Antara.
The recent accident involved three electric commuter trains in Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta, last Thursday, killing three and injuring dozens of others.
PT KAI immediately set up a special investigating team to determine the cause of the accident, which was the seventh this year. Meanwhile, the Jakarta Police have questioned six people, including the two train drivers, over the incident but the police have not yet decided whether the accident was caused by mechanical problems, a faulty system or negligence.