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Cleaner new 'bajaj' to be late
Jakarta will have to cope with smoke-belching bajaj for a while longer, as PT Abdi Rahardja has failed to meet its obligation to replace the city's older models with environmentally friendly ones
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Jakarta will have to cope with smoke-belching bajaj for a while longer, as PT Abdi Rahardja has failed to meet its obligation to replace the city's older models with environmentally friendly ones.
The delay in distributing natural gas-fueled models has prompted owners to question the bajaj-importing company's goodwill, sparking a protest at the City Council over the weekend.
Thus far, only 500 bajaj have been replaced over the past two years, out of the 10,000 slated for an upgrade.
Councilor Nurmansjah Lubis of Commission B for economic affairs said Friday his organization suggested the company return the down payment received from owners and forge ahead with replacing the vehicles.
"To avoid disputes, it would be better if the company simply returned the down payment, but PT Abdi Rahardja must also process the bajaj on their waiting list," Nurmansjah said.
Owners paid the company Rp 1.5 million (US$164) per bajaj to replace older, diesel-powered models.
PT Abdi Rahardja has accepted the commission's suggestion, with the company's director for service and spare parts, Rudi Irawan, saying the owners' money would be returned. There are currently 1,500 bajaj on the company's waiting list.
Distribution of the new gas-powered bajaj has been delayed by high import tariffs: A bajaj is subject to a 45 percent custom tax and the 10 percent value added tax applied to luxury items.
"The real price of a gas-powered bajaj is around Rp 20 million, but with a 55 percent tax markup, the price becomes Rp 40.5 million," Nurmansjah added.
