Hamzah apologizes for busway brashness

Evi Mariani and Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Vice President Hamzah Haz's spokesperson made a public apology on Tuesday, particularly directed at other road users "who might feel they were treated unfairly", when Hamzah's convoy slithered into and barreled down the busway lane along congested Jl. Thamrin on Monday.

"It was the police who directed us into the lane... as the street was congested that time. I believe what they did was in compliance with the laws," Bambang Yudho Satrio stated in a release.

"(The police decision) was made in line with security procedures for VIPs, including presidents and vice presidents."

On Monday, Hamzah's spokespeople said that he was in a hurry to meet the Indonesian Ulemas Council at his office.

Monday's incident did not go down very well with the public, and even Governor Sutiyoso was having none of it. The strongest protest came from the Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI), who accused the police of discrimination.

Head of Jakarta Police traffic division, Sr. Comr. Sulistyo Ishak, argued that the police have the authority to allow ambulances, firetrucks, hearses, state officials, including the president and vice president, as well as foreign heads of state to drive virtually anywhere they please.

Referring to Government Regulation No. 43/1993 on privileges on the roads, Sulistyo claimed that the ruling had more legal power than the city bylaw which regulates the busway system.

YLKI executive Tulus Abadi said the government regulation was not legitimate because it disregards the public's interest. "If Hamzah wanted to get to the office quicker ... go rent a helicopter," he advised.

Busway patron Sutiyoso agreed with YLKI and deplored the incident.

"The busway lane is for the busway buses! If state officials want to get somewhere without traffic they should take the busway," he urged.

He emphasized that no state officials were allowed to enter the exclusive lane. "They must be prevented from using the lane in the future."

When the busway was launched on Jan. 15, the city administration and the Jakarta Police enforced an article of the City Bylaw No. 12/2003 on traffic that bans vehicles other than busway buses and its supporting vehicles to drive in the designated lanes. Offenders can be fined up to Rp 5 million (US$605).