TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama said he would emulate Singapore in applying restrictions on vehicle age in the capital. The Singaporean government has been known of putting its citizens seeking to own new cars through red tape.

“I’ve asked them to send me the application scheme,” Ahok said at the City Hall on Monday, January 19, 2015.

Ahok said his policy to limit the age of vehicles in Jakarta to ten years was aimed at encouraging Jakartans to shift to public transports. He added owners of vehicles with production age of over ten years should demolish their cars or sell them to other regions.

Ahok explained the Jakarta administration would levy taxes on the old cars should their owners opt to keep them in possession. “The people are allowed to have old cars, but they have to pay higher tax,” Ahok said.

Ahok said the people in Singapore were facing difficulties to own cars since the purchasing process, as the Singaporean government decreed all cars must be registered at its Land Transportation Department. The Singaporean government also limits car age to ten years, imposes varied tax, and puts operational restrictions on vehicles based on the colors of their license plates.

Ahok said the capital administration would also impose progressive tax on their citizens’ second and following vehicles. In addition, he went on, he would also put the electronic road pricing and electronic parking policies in motion. “You may have cars, but it won't be easy,” he said.

LINDA HAIRANI