Punish scalpers at Pulogadung

On Aug. 14, I went to the Pulogadung intercity bus terminal in East Jakarta. I wanted to travel to Purwokerto in Central Java.

A scalper offered me a ticket for a Sinar Jaya bus. I asked him whether there were vacant seats on the bus and he said: "yes". On paying, I was not given a ticket for a Sinar Jaya bus but for a Dwi Martha bus, registration number AB 2878 BA.

I felt cheated because I usually pay Rp 8,500 for a Sinar Jaya ticket and the Dwi Martha ticket had cost me Rp 12,000. I urged the person in charge of ticket sales to cancel the ticket but my request was ignored.

I was further victimized because the bus was overcrowded. There were no vacant seats and I had to stand until Bumiayu. Fellow passengers had also been hoaxed into paying Rp 15,000 and higher.

I appeal to the related authorities to take disciplinary action against the scalpers who are becoming increasingly ferocious at the Pulogadung terminal.

AMIN KOMARUDIN

Jakarta