Govt needs time to adjust to single time zone

JAKARTA: The Transportation Ministry said that they would need three months to prepare all of its systems before the country implements the single time zone that is expected to begin in October, a senior official said on Monday.

Spokesman Bambang Ervan said that such time was needed because the ministry composed broad sectors; land, air, railway and sea transportation.

“We need three months from the day the government officially announces the date for the single time zone to prepare everything, especially in the air transportation sector because we need to inform all countries that have flight services to Indonesia,” he said.

Minister EE Mangindaan has recently sent a letter to the Coordinating Economic Minister Hatta Rajasa regarding the time that the ministry needs for the preparation.

Committee for the Expansion and Acceleration of Indonesian Economic Growth (KP3EI) has proposed launching the single time zone unifying Sabang to Merauke on Oct. 28, meaning the ministry would need the official announcement by July 28 at the latest.