TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Despite the notorious image and reputation of its drivers, Metromini busses are mainly known as a relatively cheap mode of transportation in Jakarta.
Mal Siantar Nainggolan explained that the first appearance of Metromini was associated with the Games of the New Emerging Forces (GANEFO) at 1962, a sport event initiated by former Indonesian President Soekarno that had been meant to compete with the Olympics.
During that time, Jakarta's public transportation relied heavily to oplet, the small and iconic transportation unit portrayed in 1990's movie 'Si Doel Anak Sekolah'. Soekarno ordered Jakarta Mayor Sumarno to procure more transportation units in light of the event.
However, soon after the event was finished, the existing Metromini were spread across Jakarta without proper management. "Finally, Mayor Henk Ngantung ordered several bus companies to take care of the management," said Nainggolan.
As time passes, the companies began to feel incapable to handle such major business. It was later in 1976, Ali Sadikin, Governor of Jakarta at that time, etablish a company to manage the Metromini busses.
SYAILENDRA
