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Press event chaos highlights Uber's internal problems
(Warta Kota)The sudden cancellation of a press conference held by the operator of Uberâs ride-sharing service in Indonesia on Wednesday afternoon highlights the companyâs internal problems
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(Warta Kota) (Warta Kota)
(Warta Kota)
The sudden cancellation of a press conference held by the operator of Uber's ride-sharing service in Indonesia on Wednesday afternoon highlights the company's internal problems.
Representatives from Uber Technologies Inc. in Indonesia did not show up for the press conference, in which the company was scheduled to give an official statement on recent legal woes surrounding its existence in Indonesia.
Instead, Uber's partner, the Indonesian Car Rental Businessmen Association (PPRI) took over the event and gave statements to the media.
'We did not know that Uber representatives cancelled their attendance today,' PPRI chairman Hendric Kusnadi said.
However, Uber spokesman for South Asia and India Karun Arya denied that his company had organized the press conference.
'Uber did not organize, hold, or was scheduled to participate in any press conference today. They should not have used Uber's name at all for the invite to this press conference,' he told The Jakarta Post in a text message sent from Singapore.
He also denied that the company handed the matter over to the association.
'We did not hand over the matter to them to explain. They did this on their own accord,' he said.
Uber, a car-sharing company, has garnered controversy in Indonesia over their business practices, which enable customers to hire drivers for private rides and pay via credit card on a mobile application.
The practice has been deemed illegal by the Jakarta Organization of Land Transportation Owners (Organda) as its operation with black-plated private vehicles has failed to meet the requirements demanded of public transportation operators in Jakarta.
Police seized five cars and detained Uber drivers for questioning last Friday. The company is also facing similar pressures in Bandung, West Java. (+++)
