On toll road

On toll road
construction

From Rakyat Merdeka

We are really concerned about Minister of Resettlement and
Regional Infrastructure Soenarno's tardiness in settling major
problems within the scope of his job. There are two things that
are worth questioning concerning his policies.

First, in our opinion, the construction of the Jakarta Outer
Ring Road (JORR) has dragged on for way too long and has violated
a joint agreement. Take the Malaysia Consortium for example. The
government will reportedly reimburse them for the expenses
arising from their feasibility study. This will set a bad
precedent because other companies failing to win the tender will
ask for similar compensation. In fact, every bidder in a tender
runs the risk of failing to win the tender.

Second, the government has not treated toll road investors
equally. Only certain companies' tolls have been raised. Besides,
the toll rate per kilometer differs, a situation that is not
conducive for investment in toll roads. Ordinary roads,
meanwhile, are practically always jammed.

Every time there are rumors about an increase in tolls, the
government cannot give sound reasoning for it. Instead, it
pretends to take a populist stance and, therefore, scares toll
road investors away.

In the public works sector, a visionary minister would help
stimulate economic activities, provide employment opportunities
and promote the community's standard of living without adding
pressure to the government's budget by, among other things,
constructing toll roads and providing drinking water and
electricity.

HANS SUTA WIDHYA

Deputy Chairman

of Consortium

for Transparency

in Public Information

(KUTIP) Jakarta