'Kancil' should be cheaper: Councillor

'Kancil' should be cheaper: Councillor

JAKARTA (JP): The head of the City Council's Commission D for
Development Affairs, Sayogo Hendrosubroto, urged the city
administration on Monday to lower the price of the newly
introduced Kancil vehicles from its current price of Rp 30
million (US$3,000) each.

The Kancil is a small four-wheeled vehicle, designed like the
three-wheeled bajaj that popularly roam Jakarta's streets.

"It should be lower than Rp 30 million, if we want Bajaj
drivers or owners to buy it," Sayogo, of the Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle said.

He was sure that if the price of the Kancil remains at its
current price of Rp 30 million, Bajaj drivers or owners will not
be able to afford it.

He warned that if the Kancil ended up being bought by other
people, instead of the current fleet of Bajaj owners, it would
only hamper the replacement of Bajaj.

"If we don't want them, they will be bought by other people.
If the Bajaj continue to exist, the additional Kancil will only
add to the city's traffic jams," Sayogo said.

The city administration has long planned to phase out the
Indian-made Bajaj, which has so far functioned in violation of
city bylaws which only permits four-wheeled vehicles to operate
as public transportation.

Separately, City Governor Sutiyoso urged the Kancil,
manufactured by PT Dirgantara Indonesia, to adopt the use of gas
instead of gasoline.

"It should be gas-fueled. It's good if they can be produced
domestically," Sutiyoso told reporters.

He said that he has asked the city's Land Transportation and
Traffic Control Agency (DLLAJ) to study the new vehicle.

He said the agency should also think about whether the price
was affordable for drivers.

"If the city has funds, we can provide them with a loan,"
Sutiyoso said.

The city administration stopped issuing permits to Bajaj since
1992 when it terminated the import of the vehicles. About 12,000
Bajaj vehicles were registered at DLLAJ, but more than 20,000
vehicles are estimated to currently operate on the city's
streets. (jun)