Deputy Minister Of SOEs Says Fast Train Stupids Are Built Without Access, Here's Erick Thohir's Clarification

SOE Minister Erick Thohir (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - SOE Minister Erick Thohir clarified the statement by the Deputy Minister of SOEs Kartika Wirjoatmodjo regarding the high-speed rail project that does not have access.

According to Erick, actually Tiko's statement, Kartiko Wirjoatmodjo's nickname, was only for internal and not public consumption.

Erick said that the statement made by Deputy Minister Tiko as a lesson to SOE personnel was that in building infrastructure, it was not only building main infrastructure and facilities.

However, companion infrastructure such as access must also be considered, so that the infrastructure does not become in vain.

"This is a lesson, we don't blame each other 'oh because this was built before Erick Thohir, before Mr. Tiko' didn't, only that was emphasized by Mr. Tiko internally," said Erick in Jakarta, Thursday, August 4.

"Saya tahu Pak Tiko orang yang keras, terbukti banyak banyak percepatan yang dia lakukan selama membantu saya di sektor-sektor yang selama ini di bawah dia," tambahnya.

So, said Erick, this is commonplace. Because, he continued, at that time the SOE was holding a meeting via Zoom, and immediately a number of statements that came out were assumed to be public statements.

"In fact, just like me when I collect my directors, sometimes I speak loudly, but the context has no intention of discriminating anyone, this is our learning," he said.

Regarding the access to the high-speed train, Erick has also discussed with the Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi and the Governor of West Java Ridwan Kamil.

During the discussion, it was decided to continue access to the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train.

"Well, yesterday there was an agreement from the Minister of Transportation, I, together with the Governor of West Java, there were 2 accesses in Tegal Luar and of course in Padalarang. Then, from Jakarta we will push only to this access, so that people get used to using high-speed trains for only 45 minutes, access to it," he said.

In this case, Erick again emphasized that the construction of the Fast Train infrastructure is not only thinking about the construction of trains, but also supporting facilities.

"So, in infrastructure development, it must be thoroughly seen, not only the high-speed train, there must be a terminal, access. Don't let us talk about high-speed trains, but getting out of the terminal takes an hour, not toll roads," he added.

Previously reported, Deputy Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Kartika Wirjoatmodjo admitted that he was annoyed with PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero). This is because the Jakarta Bandung (KCJB) high-speed rail project was not built with good planning.

Tiko, Kartiko Wirjoatmodjo's nickname, said that the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train does not yet have road access. In fact, this project will soon operate.

As a result, Tiko revealed that Karawang Station and Padalarang Hub Station will be opened late. In fact, if Karawang Station is opened now, there is no road access in front of it.

"Karawang has no road access to the main road, we will push it now. This is why Karawang and Padalarang are only the end of the year, because if we open the station in Karawang, there is no road in front of it. This is also a stupid, how come, you can miss it. So, the train is there, the road has not been made in front of it," he said.