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Local taxis told to improve services
Following violent protest by a group of local taxi drivers last week, Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika called on the drivers to give better services to customers before asking the provincial administration to fulfill their demands
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ollowing violent protest by a group of local taxi drivers last week, Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika called on the drivers to give better services to customers before asking the provincial administration to fulfill their demands.
Pastika made the call in response to the protesters’ demands to the administration to revoke the operating license of the Bali Taksi fleet belonging to PT Praja Bali Transportasi, which they accused of operating illegally, threatening their income.
“I agree to revoke the operating license, but they should treat their customers better because it could affect our tourism,” the governor told reporters in his office Monday.
He said he had often been notified about local taxi drivers cheating passengers by manipulating their taximeters and taking long routes to impose higher charges.
The governor did concede that local drivers were allowed to apply a standardized surcharge, but should also ensure their taximeters work.
Pastika said he was also saddened by some protesters’ behavior during the demonstration, in
which they performed a mock ngaben (a Hindu cremation ritual) by burning a white fabric effigy of the governor. They also burned paraphernalia often used in Hindu religious rituals.
“I’m really troubled by their act. How could they make fun of a sacred ceremony? It’s a disgrace to the Hindu religion.”
Pastika said that although he could have identified the perpetrators, he would not punish them and only asked them to realize their wrongdoing.
“They could have been charged with defamation, because they accused me of taking bribe [to
allow Praja Bali Transportasi fleet to operate], and the worst thing is that they humiliated Hinduism,” he stressed.
Last week, hundreds of local taxi drivers grouped in the Bali Tourism Service Union (PJWB) staged protests against PT Praja Bali Transportasi. The protest turned violent as they attacked Bali Taksi drivers and damaged 23 taxis.
During the demonstration, they damaged the cars’ bodies, smashed windshields and assaulted two local television journalists covering the incident.
The administration had asked the company to remove Blue Bird signs from the taxis, but failed to stop the protest that have been organized several months ago.
To settle the dispute, the administration has formed a special team comprising officials from the Transportation Agency, the police, the prosecutors’ office and several other related institutions. The team, which has started working this week, is tasked with investigating the case.
Praja Bali Transportasi said the company suffered a 40 percent decline in revenue following the protest, since many clients, especially hotels and corporations, have temporarily halted their cooperation agreement with the company until the situation returns to normal.
— JP/Desy Nurhayati
