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App-based drivers rally against regulation
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Application-based taxi drivers demonstrate in front of the House of Representatives/People’s Consultative Assembly compound in Jakarta on Monday.
(kompas.com/Andri Donnal Putera)
H
undreds of application-based taxi drivers demonstrated at the House of Representatives/People’s Consultative Assembly compound on Monday to demand the revocation of a ministerial regulation that stipulates a number of requirements for such drivers.
The drivers marched from Senayan eastern parking lot near the Bung Karno sports stadium to the legislature after the police banned them from conducting a convoy along the city streets with their vehicles.
‘We demand the revocation of Transportation Ministerial Regulation No. 32/2016 on online taxi operations,” said driver spokesman Andryawal Simanjuntak on the sidelines of the demonstration on Monday.
The drivers object to a number of articles in the regulation, including the requirement for drivers, who generally own the vehicles, to transfer ownership to the app-based taxi operators.
“With this regulation, they are trying to kill us. The vehicles are ours; why should the ownership status be changed? We just want to make decent money from our vehicles, why are they making it more complicated?” Andryawal asked.
Ten representatives of the drivers visited the State Palace, also in connection with the campaign to bring about the revocation of the regulation, said Iman, chairman of the Online Car Community. “We are waiting for the results of the meeting at the State Palace. We will join them to demonstrate in front of the palace,” he said.
The other requirements opposed by the drivers include roadworthy tests for vehicles and a requirement to obtain public transportation driver’s licenses.
Meanwhile, Andryawal said that with the requirement to take roadworthy tests, vehicles’ total risks became invalid, as the vehicles would take on public transportation status. (bbn)
