Perkasa buses need test-drive for quality, Sutiyoso urges
Perkasa buses need test-drive for quality, Sutiyoso urges
JAKARTA (JP): The city administration will ask the Ministry of
Transportation and Telecommunications to examine the overall
quality and performance of Perkasa buses, Governor Sutiyoso said
on Thursday.
A test-drive of the vehicles will be required before final
approval can be given for the purchase of 2,000 Perkasa buses by
city bus operators, Sutiyoso said.
The purchase is part of the city's program to replace the
capital's aging fleet of 5,000 buses, the governor said after
meeting with executives of the Jakarta chapter of the Association
of Land Transportation Owners (Organda).
The evaluation, Sutiyoso added, would be carried out shortly
after the first bus left the plant in Subang, West Jakarta.
The governor gave no date for the test, nor did he give a time
line for when the buses would be completed by the problem-plagued
PT Texmaco Perkasa Engineering, which has so far been known as a
local producer of trucks mostly purchased by the military.
"We need the quality tests because we are worried that the
general public may become the victims (should the buses be of
poor quality). That is why we need the test," Sutiyoso said.
Organda chairman Aip Sjarifuddin confirmed the plan and
supported the governor's caution and anxiety for the safety of
future passengers of the Perkasa-built buses.
"Organda is still unsure about the capability of these buses,
and so far we have only signed a memorandum of understanding with
the company.
"The results of the test will further determine whether we are
going to buy these buses or not," Aip said.
He also said the Perkasa buses had several design weaknesses,
such as the brake system and steering wheel.
Organda wants some changes to these systems, he said.
"We have to make sure these buses are able to serve the city's
commuters, because it is very important for the interests of the
general public," Aip added.
Speaking before legislators at the House of Representatives on
Tuesday, Sutiyoso said he gave his support to the recent signing
of the memorandum of understanding between Organda and Texmaco
based solely on the request of the central government.
He said that personally, he was not sure Texmaco could
manufacture quality buses.
Under the memorandum, Organda is required to help market the
Perkasa buses to city bus operators, while the company has
promised to be able to supply enough buses to meet the city's
needs.
According to Aip, Organda plans to hold another meeting with
Texmaco sometime next week, in which it will inform the company
about plans to test-drive the buses and possible design changes.
(dja/07)