Perumka blames delays on unfair bulk buys

Perumka blames delays on unfair bulk buys

JAKARTA (JP): State railroad company Perumka, battered by complaints over its ticket sales system, has countered that government and private institutions upset its operations by demanding the privilege of bulk orders of executive class tickets.

Company spokesman Helmi Aziz said on Thursday the practice prevented the firm from transparently selling the tickets during the peak season of Idul Fitri.

"Yes, if they were counted, their number could reach thousands of tickets being sold at the instruction from a large number of institutions, ranging from the Ministry of Communications, Perumka itself, the People's Consultative Assembly/House of Representatives, the Armed Forces and the media," Helmi was quoted by Antara as saying.

"Imagine ... we are forced to give the privilege to people from the above-mentioned institutions, including hundreds of journalists and TV crew members."

He said the special facility used by the organizations should be discontinued to allow fair and transparent ticket sales for all members of the public.

"With transparent sales, all prospective passengers are obliged to queue to get the tickets. There will no longer be a privilege for officials of state institutions or other very important people, including journalists.

"If the tickets were all sold out on that day, they would have to queue again on the following day."

Helmi made the remarks in response to criticism by the media that brokers controlled sales of executive class tickets at Gambir Railway Station.

"I will reveal all the evidence in the ticket sales in a news conference on the evaluation of the Idul Fitri transportation management later."

Tini Hadad, chairwoman of the Indonesian Consumers Foundation, fully supported Perumka's demand for the abolition of the special facility.

She said Perumka should be brave enough to initiate the elimination of all forms of discrimination, which fueled the activities of brokers.

"Perumka is set up with the people's money. Therefore it should serve all segments of the community without any exceptions," Tini was quoted by Antara as saying. (hhr)