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.