Many criticize transportation bylaw
Many criticize transportation bylaw
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Transportation experts expressed pessimism that the newly
approved bylaw on city transportation would not be a strong
framework to create an efficient transportation system in the
city as it gives too much authority to the governor, opening the
door to further abuse of power.
Jack Sumabrata, a transportation expert from the University of
Indonesia (UI), said the bylaw was disappointing because the city
needed an independent and powerful body to rectify the chaotic
transportation system in Jakarta.
He said the failure to create comprehensive urban
transportation regulations would only worsen current conditions.
"The City Council should be blamed for its inability to
overcome the uncontrolled transportation problems in the city,"
Jack told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.
A similar comment came from coordinator of the Urban
Transportation Society Azas Tigor Nainggolan. Tigor insisted that
his organization would demand a judicial review of the bylaw.
The bylaw, approved on Monday, covers traffic and land, rail,
river and ferry transportation. The council and Jakarta Governor
Sutiyoso boasted that the new regulation will accelerate the
government's efforts to provide affordable, efficient and clean
transportation in Jakarta.
Unfortunately the bylaw itself only touches general aspects
and practically gives the governor a final say on everything. The
governor is authorized to issue 40 gubernatorial decrees to
support the bylaw.
Tigor expressed concern that the governor was also authorized
to define the structure, working mechanism, and membership of the
City Transportation Council (DTK). Transportation experts said
DTK should be an independent body and free from any external
interventions.
Tigor stressed the need for an independent and strong DTK so
that it could resolve various problems on urban transportation.
"If everything is authorized by the governor, DTK will never
become an independent body although its members may come from
various parties," Tigor told the Post on Thursday.
Based on the bylaw, the DTK membership will comprise
transportation experts, scholars, officials from the City Land
Transportation Agency, police, public transportation operators
and non-governmental organizations.
The council should be established before June next year.
Tigor said that his organization would study closely the
content of the bylaw and it planned to propose a judicial review
so that there would be a possibility of revising the bylaw, which
was vital in developing a transportation system in the city.
Meanwhile, Jack also expressed concern that the bylaw failed
to stipulate vehicular emission standards for private cars
because private cars contribute 70 percent of air pollutants in
urban areas.
According to Jack, inclusion of such a ruling in the bylaw
would significantly reduce air pollution in the city.
Environmentalists have been waiting for the bylaw on emission
levels as it would facilitate the implementation of Gubernatorial
Decree No. 1041/2000 on the emission standards for vehicles in
the city.