'State officials should be exempt from traffic regulations'

'State officials should be exempt from traffic regulations'

Vice President Hamzah Haz publicly apologized for using the
busway lane along congested Jl. Thamrin, Central Jakarta, on his
way to the office. He defended his actions by saying that the
police had directed his convoy into the lane. According to the
law, road users must give priority to, among others, the vehicles
of state officials. The Jakarta Post talked to some residents on
their opinion of the traffic regulations.

Yopi, 34, works for a private company in Central Jakarta. He
lives with his wife in Duren Sawit, East Jakarta:

I agree that the head of state and state officials should be
exempt from traffic regulations. They are on official business,
which is in the interests of the people, so they should not be
delayed from doing their jobs.

But, in Hamzah Haz's case, taking over the busway lane should
have been the last resort. Why enter the dedicated lane if the
police can stop the traffic to allow the convoy to pass anyway?

What was so important about meeting the Indonesian Ulemas
Council?

If the official is allowed to pass because they have important
work to do, that I can understand. But if it is for a personal
reason, such as they are late for lunch, then they should deal
with the traffic jam, the same as everyone else.

Christina, 29, works as a finance manager on Jl. Sudirman in
Central Jakarta. She lives with her sister in an apartment in
Central Jakarta:

It's totally unfair for Hamzah Haz to use the busway lane just
to escape the traffic jam. If there was an emergency situation,
such as an accident in which someone died, and he had to be
there, then it would be understandable.

But that wasn't the case, was it? He was just trying to go to
his office. Does he think that just because he's the vice
president, he can do anything he wants?

He should have been ticketed by the police. But I guess the
police were afraid because he's important. That shows that our
leaders are just a bunch of hypocrites. They create the law, but
break it themselves.

--The Jakarta Post