Transportation Council yet to be acknowledged

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The newly elected members of the Jakarta Transportation Council regrets Governor Sutiyoso's reluctance in their inauguration although they had been selected three months ago.

"We have received complaints from the public about traffic congestion, the busway and road projects but we can do nothing because we haven't been inaugurated," said council member Dedi Suhardadi during a gathering recently.

The establishment of the council is mandated under Bylaw No. 12/2003 on transportation, which was endorsed on Nov. 13, 2003, and requires the administration to set up the council six months after its enactment.

Thirteen of the 15-strong council are academicians, experts, businessmen, representatives of non-governmental organizations, public transportation workers and users. The two remaining members are representatives of the city transportation agency and the city police.

The council is tasked to provide recommendations to the administration on how to resolve the chronic transportation problem in the capital, but has no legislative authorities.

D.A. Rini of the transportation agency said her agency has tried to convince the governor to inaugurate the council members by the end of December.

"If the governor turns a deaf ear on us, we will resign from the council altogether to show that we are serious," said council member Sidharta.

Social observer Agus Pambagio suggested that council members should promote themselves to the public through the media and install a hotline service so that the public could file complaints on transportation problems.