Organda complains about payoffs

Organda complains about payoffs

JAKARTA: Indonesia's Land Transportation Owners Association
(Organda) complained on Friday about various payments demanded by
regional administrations across the country, saying they had
added greater burdens and been passed on to the consumer.

In a meeting with President Megawati on Friday, Organda
chairman G.T Soerbakti said certain fees had been mushrooming
since implementation of regional autonomy in 2000, forcing the
companies to increase their fares for buses.

"These extra payments make it very difficult for us to compete
with air transportation providers who have offered cheap prices
for passengers," Soerbakti said after the meeting.

He said Megawati expressed some concern about the large number
of regional bylaws that needed revision for overburdening the
business community.

"We hope the President will pay attention to our financial
difficulties resulting from these fees," Soerbakti said. -- JP