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strong>Feb. 6, p9

To reduce the number of private cars on the capital'€™s streets, Governor Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo aims to launch 20 new Transjakarta routes connecting elite housing complexes, including those in Pondok Indah, South Jakarta, to existing bus lanes.

During the launch of new Transjakarta routes connecting one of Jakarta'€™s oldest elite housing complexes, Pantai Indah Kapuk (PIK) in North Jakarta to the National Monument (Monas) in Central Jakarta on Wednesday, the governor said he was upbeat that his latest strategy would persuade middle-to-upper class workers to switch to public transportation.

Your comments:

Please define '€œupper classes'€. Please explain how putting more buses on the already inadequate roadways in any way helps solve the traffic problems of Jakarta.

Please explain how this faulty thinking and simplistic approach to problem solving qualifies Jokowi to be the president of all the people.

While at it, please explain on what basis the fanatic Jokowi supporters find anything to cheer about, other than his boyish charm and friendly nature. Style over substance does not cut it in the real world.

Anony Com

I am a little uneasy with the idea that the Jakarta governor and arguably the next president of Indonesia is explicitly targeting upper class Indonesians with the new Transjakarta buses.

Then again, I find the blatantly visible class structure in Indonesia somewhat discomforting as well. So I guess it makes sense to see a politician cutting to the chase to define the problem and propose his solution in unequivocal terms.

It does leave a bad taste in my mouth though, the fact that Jokowi seems to be more interested in getting the rich to take the shiny new fancy Transjakarta buses than allocating funds to improve the quality of Kopaja and Metro Mini, something that most people use. I congratulate him for the new commuter line.

Magpie

No. You want the upper class to use the bus lanes? Sell bus lane passes for vehicles, that way they have the prestige, their drivers still have jobs and the extra income will go into the city.

PS Peers