Most city buses remain at pool

Most city buses remain at pool

JAKARTA (JP): Seventy percent of 15,390 city buses normally
serving the capital did not operate during the election campaign
period from May 19 to June 4, as bus crew members feared clashes
between party supporters.

Aip Sjarifuddin, head of the Jakarta chapter of the
Organization of Land Transportation Owners (Organda), said on
Saturday that bus crew members were unwilling to work as "they
may have lost their lives if they did.

"This is what executives of bus companies have reported to me.
The executives did their best to persuade the crew members to go
to work... but to no avail," Aip told The Jakarta Post over the
phone.

"The crew members were even offered bonuses, but they
apparently didn't care about the money. They were more worried
about their lives and families. They even suggested that city
residents, who usually take the bus to work, stay at home."

Data from the Organda office revealed that the 15,390 buses
still described as road worthy fell sharply, from 21,987 buses,
due to the scarcity of spare parts.

Public transportation has been severely affected by the
economic crisis, which commenced in July 1997.

Out of the 15,390 buses, 4,013 are big buses, 4,952 metrominis
and 15,022 minivans or mikrolets.

An executive of the Koantas Bima minibus company, A.S.
Simbolon, said that during the campaign period only 60 of the
company's 150 buses were operational.

"I hope the crew members, who have been on holiday during the
campaigning activities, come back to work by Monday or Tuesday at
the latest. Otherwise, how will the company run?"

Simbolon refused to divulge company losses resulting from the
nonoperating buses. (ylt)