'Kancil' require new driver's license

Urip Hudiono and Evi Mariani, Jakarta

Expressing concerns that the operation of locally made kancil would affect their daily livelihoods, several bajaj (three-wheel motorized vehicle) drivers are inquiring as to whether their current driver's licenses are valid for the four-wheel kancil.

Siswo, who usually waits for passengers on Jl. Adityawarman near the Blok M bus terminal in South Jakarta, said many other bajaj drivers had raised the same question, as they only had a special class A driver's license to operate bajaj.

"We heard that we need a class A driver's license for public transportation vehicles to drive a kancil," he said. "We are not sure if our license is valid or not."

They raised the concern only days after the city administration confirmed the gradual replacement of bajaj with kancil, arguing that the Indian-made bajaj had contributed to air and noise pollution.

Since 1976, the city has been served by 14,612 bajaj, which are usually operated by two drivers with half-day shifts each.

Siswo hoped the administration would give them a special privilege to apply for the necessary driver's license.

"We are not against the plan to replace bajaj with kancil, but we want to make sure that we will not lose our jobs after the kancil begin operating," he said.

Siswo has been driving a bajaj since 1984, and recalled how he obtained his special class A driver's license for bajaj after a week-long boot camp held by the Jakarta Police's traffic division.

"They trained us how to drive a bajaj properly and to obey traffic regulations strictly," he said. "We even received certificates after passing the course."

He said many passengers and other motorists had complained about some bajaj drivers' reckless behavior, but argued that these were mostly new drivers who had never received proper training to operate the vehicle.

"They usually don't have a driver's license, either," he said.

In response to the drivers' inquiry, city police spokesman Sr. Comr. Prasetyo said bajaj drivers would need to upgrade their license, as the kancil was a four-wheeled vehicle -- although its engine capacity is less than 500cc.

However, he said city police had yet to draw up plans to facilitate bajaj drivers in upgrading their licenses.

Separately, city councillor Kuswadi tried out a kancil as part of a campaign to support the administration's plan to replace the bajaj.

"We had a meeting with the city transportation agency and we agreed that the plan must not cause bajaj owners to lose their jobs," he said.

The kancil is produced by PT Kurnia Abadi Niaga Citra Indah Lestari. Director Dandi Zulkarnaen said the vehicle would be displayed at the City Council building so people could get used to it.