Luhut, Railway Director General Addresses BKPK Refusal to Import Used Trains from Japan

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - After the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP) rejected plans to import used train cars from Japan, the government is preparing other options to replace the 16 Jabodetabek KRL series which must be retired in the next two years.

Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan emphasized that the government would still refer to the results of the BPKP audit. But he said his ministry will conduct more meetings with relevant ministries and agencies to consider next steps.

"We have just seen the audit. If there are other considerations from the BPKP audit, we will review it later. We will have another meeting," Luhut said when met at his office, Central Jakarta, Monday, April 10.

Meanwhile, the Transportation Ministry's Director General of Railways, Risal Wasal, said that both importing and retrofitting train cars have the same purpose, which is to improve Jabodetabek KRL passenger services. He said that the DG will support whatever option is chosen, as long as it does not violate the rules.

Met at the Transportation Ministry building on Monday, Risal said that if the budget for importing cars is bigger and the requirements cannot be met, the ministry will also refuse it. This means, he said, the ministry supports the BPKP audit results.

Addressing the option to retrofit the trains, he said that the existing carriages had no spare parts. Thus, the government must replace the train and PT INKA must be ready to produce and repair the existing system. However, Risal said, as long as the existing trains are still operational and can still be maintained operationally, they will still try to use them or try other options by optimizing existing assets and changing up train schedules.

RIANI SANUSI PUTRI

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