TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Online-based motorcycle taxi (ojek) drivers planned to stage a demonstration on Friday, September 27, before the legislative building, Senayan, Central Jakarta. A Gojek driver Iwan said the planned rally had been discussed by ten communities overseeing online ojek drivers.

“As of this afternoon, at least ten organizations [supporting] Gojek driver-partners have discussed the act [that will be held] tomorrow. But it has not been confirmed yet,” said a Gojek driver Iwan to Tempo in Blok M, South Jakarta, Thursday, September 26.

Iwan explained the online ride-hailing service firm Gojek initially banned its drivers to join such a political demonstration. “If [the rally] is related to politics, such as the one about the previous election, it is prohibited. Gojek driver-partners are not allowed to join any act about politics,” said Iwan, adding that the appeal was spread through messaging app Whatsapp.

However, Iwan said he would join the demonstration which he considered a personal choice. "Even if this is prohibited, this goes back to the individuals whether they want to take the streets for the nation or not," the driver said.

Another Gojek driver Sahrul claimed to have not received the information. "But if there is a call for a demonstration in my group, I’m in," he said.

Previously, the call for online ojek’s protest was first spread by the online motorcycle taxi group dubbed Garda Indonesia, led by Igun Wicaksono. He said the rally would involve 2,000 drivers of Gojek and Grab. "But we have no political interest. We do not want to be used as political tools," said Igun on Thursday, September 26.

EKO WAHYUDI l IMAM HAMDI