Ma'ruf Amin's Spokesman Apologizes for KRL Schedule Disruption

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Vice-presidential spokesman Masduki Baidlowi has apologized for disrupting the Commuterline train schedule, also known as the Jabodetabek KRL, after prioritizing the Inspection 4 Train that took Vice President Ma'ruf Amin back to Jakarta after a work visit to Banten.

The passengers, who were temporarily halted, booed Ma'ruf Amin’s train when he passed the Tanah Abang Station, Central Jakarta, yesterday afternoon, January 30, 2020.

“We apologize to the people who were disturbed" Masduki said when contacted, on Friday, January 31, 2020.

Masduki explained that the people were actually booing an empty train with no VVIP passengers in them, as Ma'ruf and the ministers had gotten off at the Kebayoran Station.

Masduki went on to say that the return of Ma'ruf from Banten using the train was the idea of Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi. 

According to Masduki, every work trip made by the president or vice president using either trains, cars, or planes, will inevitably have an impact on the people nearby. The reason is to maintain the security of state leaders.

“But that is in accordance with the law. [There are] procedures for securing the president or vice president, there is a law for it," he said.

Previously, during a work visit to Banten province on Thursday, January 30, 2020, Ma'ruf Amin and his entourage boarded the Inspection 4 Train owned by PT KAI. In addition to visiting victims of flash floods in Lebak, Ma'ruf also checked on the condition of the Rangkasbitung-Serang railroad tracks.

AHMAD FAIZ IBNU SANI