Megawati Calls for Improvements to Indonesia's Railway System

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia’s fifth president and General Chair of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) Megawati Soekarnoputri has expressed condolences over the train accident at Bekasi Timur Station and called for improvements to Indonesia’s railway system. The train collision between the Agro Bromo Anggrek and KRL services at Bekasi Timur Station resulted in 15 deaths and 84 injuries. “Ibu Megawati has been following the coverage of the victim handling through the mass media; she is deeply saddened. Ibu Megawati prays for all the accident victims, especially those called by God, that their journey is smooth and they receive the best place in heaven,” said PDI Perjuangan General Secretary Hasto Kristiyanto in a statement in Jakarta on Wednesday. Hasto said Megawati then instructed members of the PDI Perjuangan Faction in the House of Representatives (DPR RI) to pay special attention to overhauling Indonesia’s train safety system, including by holding working meetings with PT KAI and related parties. “Ibu Megawati has asked all members of the PDI Perjuangan Faction Group V in DPR RI, led by Mr Lasarus, to hold a meeting to carry out improvements to the train safety system, communication system, and instrumentation system,” he stated. Therefore, Hasto said, Megawati hopes this incident becomes a momentum to reform and strengthen the transportation system. “In the future, trains must become the backbone of a national transportation system that is safe, comfortable, on time, and provides quality service and security guarantees for all Indonesian people,” Hasto said. In the statement, Megawati also recalled the journeys often taken by Soekarno (Bung Karno) by train. At every crossing, it was always guarded by employees known as the Indonesian Republic Railway Service (DKARI), at that time in uniform and carrying a red flag. Trains played an important role in the nation’s struggle history, including facilitating the transport of troops and logistics during the physical revolution. Bung Karno himself once worked as a railway employee during the Dutch East Indies era.