Transport Minister Addresses Protests from Commuters in Ketapang: I Understand

Transport Minister (Menhub) Dudy Purwagandhi has spoken out regarding the spotlight and protests from commuters when he inspected Ketapang Port in Banyuwangi, East Java. Dudy understands the disappointment of the commuters due to the long vehicle queues. “Yesterday, perhaps because the commuter friends had been waiting a long time, they got a bit angry, but I understand. However, we also went there without using vehicles,” Dudy said at Polda Metro Jaya in Jakarta on Wednesday (18/3/2026). Dudy explained that his visit to Ketapang aimed to accelerate coordination in handling the density at Gilimanuk Port in Bali, especially ahead of Nyepi Day. “When we arrived at Ketapang, our goal was to go to Gilimanuk to coordinate regarding the density at Gilimanuk,” he said. “That’s why we didn’t use vehicles to cross. So we left the vehicles at Ketapang, and we took the ferry as pedestrians,” he added. According to Dudy, this step was taken so that the crossing process did not add to the vehicle queue density at the port. He also emphasised the importance of accelerating coordination at Gilimanuk so that congestion could be resolved quickly before Nyepi Day, while ensuring the smooth flow of the Idul Fitri exodus. “The hope is that the problems or density at Gilimanuk can be resolved quickly before Nyepi Day. That’s our goal,” he stated. They sounded their horns simultaneously when the ministry’s entourage passed towards the ferry. In fact, one commuter was heard shouting at the officials’ entourage amid the long vehicle queue. However, Dudy remained unfazed and continued the journey amid the increasingly loud back-and-forth honking from the commuters. The ministry’s entourage then boarded an ASDP ferry that was deliberately emptied without commuters, while the vehicle queues for service users still snaked long in the port area.