Online Trasportation Services Must Be Registered: VP

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - Vice President Jusuf Kalla said all kinds of transportation services, whether online application-based or conventional, must be registered.

"All public transportation services, including (online-based and) conventional motorcycle taxis, must be registered. They should also pass through a test and provide security (for their passengers)," the vice president noted while speaking at his office here on Tuesday.

The vice president made the remarks while commenting on the online application-based public transportation services, particularly the Grabtaxi (headquartered in Malaysia and Ubertaxi, headquartered in California).

According to Jusuf Kalla (JK), there are two things that we have to pay heed to, namely safeguarding peoples interest in transportation facility and the development of technology.

"Both conventional and online services are concerned with small people. Drivers of cab taxi, Gojek motorcycle taxi and Grabtaxi all come from the small people bracket," JK said.

The second is that technology is advancing rapidly and nothing can stop it.

"Technology leads to efficiency. We have to remember that this does not concern transportation only. If you want to eat martabak, (thick folded crepe filled with spices and pieces of meat) you can order it online," he said.

JK said the online transportation service system has made traffic more orderly because the vehicles arrived when these were ordered. This reduces the number of vehicles on the road.

Therefore, the vice president is of the view that services in both systems of transportation should be managed well and there should be restrictions based on the need.

"Jakarta must have a plan first, taking into account factors such as the number of taxis needed, both online and through conventional services, so that it does not lead to any problem," the vice president said.

On Monday, Transportation Minister Ignasius Jonan wrote a letter to Communications and Informatics Minister Rudiantara asking him to block the applications being used by the online-based transportation services.

Minister Jonan sent the letter because he considered that the online application-based transportation services violated Law No. 22/2009 on Traffic and Land Transportation.(WDY)