Repair shops to check emission

JAKARTA: The Ministry of Communications will involve auto repair shops in private vehicle emission checks next year, following the issuance of a government regulation on the emission standard in September.

"Accredited auto repair shops will do the checks under the supervision of local administrations," Anton Tampubolon, director of land transportation at the ministry, was quoted as saying by Antara over the weekend.

Chairman of the Association of Auto Repair Shop Owners (Asbekindo), A. Yayat Ruhiyat, said the organization has 120 members in six provinces.

"Each shop needs at least Rp 1 billion (US$107,526) to procure the computerized device to check the brakes, lamps, and gas emission of vehicles," he said.

According to the Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI), 70 percent of air pollution is contributed by public and private vehicles. -- JP