Drivers threaten to hit street if proposed fare rejected

The Jakarta Post

Jakarta / Wed, March 20, 2019 / 09:08 am

Ride-hailing app taxi drivers have threatened to take to the street if their proposed fare of Rp
3,000 (21 US cents) per kilometer is rejected by the government, which plans to issue a fare
decree on Friday.

“We have no other choice. Our demand is Rp 3,000 gross or Rp 24,000 net,” said Igum
Wicaksasono of the Combined Presidium for Two-wheel National Association (Garda) in Jakarta
on Tuesday as quoted by kompas.com.

Igum did not mention when the protest would take place, saying the drivers would wait on the
government’s decision. He claims that he represented all drivers who are fighting for higher
fares.

“Garda does not represent drivers of a single ride-haling app, we are a combined community of
ride-hailing apps drivers from all over the country,” he said.

The Transportation Ministry recently issued Ministerial Regulation No 12/2019 on safety for
motorcycle users rented by the public.

Its land road director general, Budi Setiyadi, said on Monday said that the ministry would issue a
ministerial decree on the fare this week.

Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said the ministry had not decided on the exact
amount yet because it was still negotiating with both drivers and ride-hailing app providers.

Drivers have demanded that the fare should be increased to Rp 3,000 per km, while providers
have insisted on maintaining it at Rp 1,600. They also offered an alternative scheme of minimum
fares of between Rp 9,000 and Rp 10,000.

Budi Karya said the ministry would make a decision no later than Friday. (bbn)
 Indonesia deregulates palm oil exports
The Jakarta Post
Jakarta / Tue, March 19, 2019 / 10:10 am

The Trade Ministry's international trade director, General Oke Nurwan

The new regulation on the export of palm crude oil (CPO) and its derivative products has taken
effect and is part of the government’s plan to simplify the export procedures of the country’s
major commodity.

On Monday, the Trade Ministry announced the revocation of Trade Minister Regulation No
54/2015 on technical verification of exported palm oil and CPO and its derivative products.

“Apart from aiming to improve effectiveness, the revocation was also an implementation of a
decision taken at an economic coordination meeting recently,” said the ministry’s international
trade director general, Oke Nurman in a statement issued on Monday.

Under Trade Minister Regulation No. 54/2015 and No. 90/2015, any palm oil and its derivative
products were required to have verification of the commodity by a surveyor in the form of
administrative and technical verifications before the commodity could be loaded onto ships.

Under the procedure, the commodity should also pass a laboratory test to assess its quality and
specification.

The procedures are simplified under Trade Minister Regulation No 22/2019 on the export of
palm oil, CPO and its derivative products, which came into effect seven days after it was issued
on March 1.

The old procedures were revoked after a significant decline in the price of CPO in the
international market and the negative campaigns against the commodity in a number of
countries. The European Union has also gradually phased out the use of biodiesel derived from
CPO. (bbn)
 Pecel lele vendor assaulted for taking too long with order
The Jakarta Post
Bekasi / Tue, March 19, 2019 / 05:49 pm

A 'pecel lele' (fried catfish) vendor in Bekasi, West Java, was attacked by two of his customers
for allegedly being too slow in serving their orders. (tribunnews.com/File)

A pecel lele (fried catfish) vendor in Bekasi, West Java, was attacked by two of his customers,
reportedly for being too slow in serving their orders.

Bekasi Police spokesperson Comr. Erna Ruswing said the assault occurred on Jl. Raya
Jatimakmur, Pondok Gede, Bekasi, on March 10, at 2.30 a.m.

The unidentified assailants ordered pecel lele from the victim, Achmad Zunaidi, 49.

“The victim was selling pecel lele when the two men placed their orders. The perpetrators
apparently got angry and punched the victim, because they were kept waiting too long for their
orders,” Erna said on Tuesday, kompas.comreported.

The attackers punched the victim until he called out for help from his younger brother selling
toast nearby.

“Despite the witness [the brother] arriving at the scene to stop the fight, the attackers continued
to beat the victim using a wooden stick,” Erna said.

The attackers then fled on their motorcycle. Meanwhile, the victim was taken to Kramatjati
Hospital in East Jakarta by his family for treatment for facial injuries.

Erna said the victim reported the case to Pondok Gede Police and the police were currently
looking for the perpetrators. (ami)