Anies Baswedan Speaks of Reoperation of Zhong Tong Bus

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has spoken up about the reoperation of the Zhong Tong bus in the capital. He stressed that the determination of brands for the Transjakarta bus is outside the scope of his authority. The provincial administration could only set the minimum service standard (SPM).

“Jakarta administration sets the SPM, and so we pay the service through the operator (Transjakarta),” said Anies in Soemantri Sports Center, Kuningan, Jakarta, Thursday, Oct. 17.

The governor underlined that the administration has no longer purchased bus units, but paid the service per kilometer. “We only determine the SPM. The rest is the responsibility of the operator.”

Responding to public unrest regarding the safety of the Chinese-made bus that had caught fire a few years ago, Anies reiterated that there is a work contract that underlined the service standard that must be fulfilled in operating the bus.

“There must be a contract, in which stipulated regulations [on safety standard],” Anies Baswedan remarked.

Since three days ago, state-run bus company Perum PPD has again operated 21 out of 51 Zhong Tong bus that was the procurement of 2012-2013 it won from the regional public service agencies (BLUD). As many as 29 units arrived on November 28, 2016, and the remaining 30 units entered Tanjung Priok Port on March 20, 2017.

In August 2015, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama or Ahok, who was served as Jakarta Governor, affirmed he would never again purchase any Transjakarta bus from unknown brands, including Zhong Tong following the blaze.

ANTARA