TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Transportation Society (MTI) requested the government to draft a special regulation regarding application-based transportation or online transportation. The association's secretary-general Harya S. Dillon, commented that the existing Transportation Law No. 22 of 2009 on Traffic and Land Transportion is too general to manage public transportation.

"A regulation as a legal basis to manage online transportation is extremely urgent," said Harya during a discussion in Central Jakarta on Friday, June 21, 2019.

According to Harya, online-based transportation should connect mass transportation such as commuter line and MRT. However, its existence could not be integrated officially due to lack of legal protection.

Additionally, the existing law could not protect consumers from cartel practice. Until tody, app-based transportation is regulated under Transportation Ministerial Regulation No. 118 of 2018.

The decree stipulates online taxi management, including its service standard, tariff, promotions procurement, and strict administrative sanction. Therefore, Harya suggested that the government should consider drafting a regulation on online motorcycle taxi or locally known online ojek.

"There are indeed many weaknesses in regulation concerning land transport, but turning a blind eye cannot solve a problem. The government must formulate a regulation," he underlined.

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA