Small bus operators protest fee hike

Small bus operators protest fee hike

JAKARTA (JP): A group of 12 small bus operators in the capital
protested on Thursday the sharp increase in vehicle inspection
and terminal access fees.

Speaking at the meeting with the City Council Commission C for
financial affairs, the operators demanded a review of the newly
enforced City Bylaw No.3/1999 on traffic and public
transportation that had stipulated the hike.

Under the new bylaw, which replaced City Bylaw No. 9/1992,
each bus should pay Rp 40,000 for vehicle inspection fee, a sharp
Rp 32,250 raise from the previous fee and Rp 79,200 for terminal
access fee, a big difference from the previous Rp 19,800.

The increase, which took effect on Wednesday, had caused at
least 20 small buses to cancel their inspection and as a result
were banned from operating, a representative from Koperasi Wahana
Kalpika (KWK), B. Manurung said.

"It doesn't make any sense. Our operating costs are already
high due to expensive vehicle spare parts and the fuel price
hike," said Manurung.

He said each bus is subject to a biannual check at three
appointed locations in Ujung Menteng in East Jakarta, Jagakarsa
in South Jakarta and Kedaung in West Jakarta.

He added that the terminal access fee, collected every six
months, was paid along with the vehicle inspection fee.

Manurung said there were at least 5,164 small buses under the
management of KWK owned by 3,311 individuals across the capital.
Some 20 small buses are checked everyday.

"We are proposing that the previous fees based on City Bylaw
No.9/1992 be applied for us, or at least we should be given a
discount as enjoyed by the big and medium-sized buses," said
Manurung.

According to the City Bylaw No. 3/1999, big and medium-sized
buses receive 25 percent discount for vehicle inspection fee,
which then requires them to pay a mere Rp 10,000.

Operators of big and medium-sized buses also receive another
25 percent discount for terminal access fee. A big bus is charged
Rp 49,500, while a medium-sized bus is charged Rp 24,750 after
the discount.

Under the old City Bylaw No. 9/1992, all buses received a 50
percent discount for vehicle inspection fee and terminal access
fee.

"Although big and medium-sized buses occupy more space at the
terminal, small buses are paying a higher fees," said Manurung.

Another representative, Asdi Wardi of Purimas Jaya, said the
regulation was discriminative.

"It's not fair. And the fines for delays in inspection is
killing us," said Asdi Wardi

Based on the City Bylaw No.3/1999, the fines vary between Rp
20,000 and Rp 80,000, whereas the City Bylaw No.9/1992 had set
the fines at between Rp 4,850 and Rp 19,500.

"We also have to pay a 'friendship' fee to the bus terminal
officials, which could be as high as Rp 175,000 for each bus,"
said Asdi.

Both Asdi and Manurung claimed that this problem had been
ignored by the Jakarta Chapter of the Association of Land
Transportation Owners (Organda), the umbrella organization of the
operators.

"Organda has not assisted us on this matter. We have quit the
association last June," said Asdi.

Separately, chairman of Organda Aip Sjarifuddin, told
reporters that the association had proposed in September that the
city administration apply the vehicle inspection fee discount on
all public buses, including small buses.

"We also proposed higher discounts of up to 75 percent for
public buses," said Aip, adding that the governor had yet to
respond to the request.(07)