TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Jakarta acting governor Heru Budi Hartono on Wednesday said that he has requested city-owned transport Transjakarta to improve passenger safety following a recent case of sexual harassment that happened to a female passenger onboard a Transjakarta bus on February 20.

The improved safety aspect in public transport includes surveillance, which he said will be important to prevent similar incidents from recurring in the future. He also called for passengers, in general, to collectively look after one another.

“I have also asked them to do that. Monitor [the situation] better,” said Budi at Jakarta’s Grand Hyatt on February 23. “I don’t get why there are such behaviors. But the safety aspect must be improved, certainly.”

The incident blew up on Twitter after the victim recollected the sexual harassment that happened during rush hours in a series of Tweets and a video of the aftermath. Transjakarta swiftly handled the case and said on Tuesday that the perpetrator had been nabbed and handed over to law enforcers.

“The suspect was already captured and is detained by law enforcement officers,” said Apriastini Bakti Bugiansri, Transjakarta spokesperson and corporate secretary on February 21. “We strongly condemn any act of sexual harassment in public transportation. Especially onboard Transjakarta services.”

AMY HEPPY

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