JP/2/A05

JP/2/A05

No vehicles are allowed on the busway lane except those with
VVIPs, if the incident involving Vice President Hamzah Haz
becomes a precedent.

On Monday morning a convoy of vehicles including that
transporting Hamzah was seen cruising on the special lane, past
unfortunate motorists along the congested Jl. M. Thamrin in front
of the Sarinah department store. Hamzah's spokesman Yudo Bambang
Satrio told detik.com that it was the police who directed the
convoy into the busway lane.

However he said it was an emergency. "Jl. Thamrin was
congested. Bapak's convoy passed a police officer who directed
the convoy into the busway lane. What's all the fuss about?"

The Vice President had just left a function in the Senayan
area in Central Jakarta and was in a hurry to attend a meeting
with the Indonesian Ulema's Council at the Vice President's
palace, Yudo said.

"So it (entering the busway lane) was the initiative of the
local police, it was not the request of the Vice President. And
it (the convoy) didn't take so much space, after a few hundred
meters it was out of the lane again," Yudo added.

He said the convoy comprised of the Mercedez Benz transporting
Hamzah with the B2 license plate, the vehicle of his guards, and
two others with the presidential guards ("security I" and
"security II").

The introduction of the busway has left only two fast lanes
for private vehicles. There are additional plans to add space for
an executive class of the busway.

The busway and its exclusive lane was introduced to Jakartans
on Jan. 15.