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)