Transport Minister Absent from DPR Commission Meeting on Bekasi Timur Train Collision
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi was absent from the working meeting of DPR Commission V discussing the train accident at Bekasi Timur Station on Wednesday (13/5/2026).
Commission V Chairman Lasarus revealed that Dudy had sent a letter to Commission V DPR requesting that the meeting be rescheduled or that he be represented by Deputy Transport Minister Suntana.
“There are two letters here. If it proceeds, there is Mr Deputy Minister, with the letter. But if it does not proceed because of the working meeting earlier, then we postpone according to the first letter’s request,” Lasarus said in the Commission V DPR meeting room on Wednesday afternoon.
Lasarus noted that only the Transport Minister was absent from the meeting, while the Minister of Public Works, the National Police Traffic Corps Chief, and the Head of Basarnas were present.
Therefore, Lasarus asked for the views of Commission V DPR members on whether the meeting should proceed with the Deputy Transport Minister or be rescheduled as per the Transport Minister’s request letter.
In response, DPR Commission V RI member Mori Hanafi expressed disappointment because Dudy was absent from the working meeting discussing the Bekasi Timur train accident.
According to Mori, the Transport Minister’s absence was difficult to understand because the issue being discussed was the primary domain of the Ministry of Transport.
Mori also questioned the reasons for the Transport Minister’s absence, which were said to be related to the investigation process and health issues.
“The first reason doesn’t make sense to us; the Bekasi train accident is not complicated, it’s simple, yet you gentlemen still can’t conclude the cause after so many days. So on the other hand, this health reason—which one is the appropriate excuse,” said Mori.
Furthermore, the NasDem Party politician was convinced that the relevant parties already knew the initial cause of the accident.
“I’m sure if I ask the Head of Basarnas now, he already knows; the Head of KNKT already knows what the cause is,” Mori said.
“If the reason given is because it’s still under investigation, to me that doesn’t make sense,” he added.
Previously reported, the collision occurred between the Cikarang-bound KRL number PLB 5568A and the Gambir-Surabaya Pasar Turi Argo Bromo Anggrek train around 8:52 PM WIB on Monday night (27/4/2026).
The incident took place on the platform at Bekasi Timur Station KM 28+920.
The total casualties from the accident reached 106 people.
Sixteen people died after intensive treatment, while 90 others sustained injuries.