Zhongtong, TransJakarta Buses That Don't Learn From Past Mistakes

Photo illustration (Diah Ayu Wardhany / VOI)

JAKARTA - A few days ago the case of showing vulgar videos on the electronic billboard for the TransJakarta bus brand Zhongtong proved that this bus from China was still problematic.

The Zhongtong Bus was again operated for the umpteenth time by TransJakarta last October. At that time, there were concerns over the quality of Zhongtong, who drove in Jakarta because of the many problems that occurred.

Initially, one of the TransJakarta bus providers, the Djakarta Passenger Transport Corporation (PPD) procured 66 buses that were purchased from the Zhong Tong Bus Holding company in 2012.

In 2015, Zhongtong's track record began to register as a bad bus brand. Zhongtong once caught fire while operating on Jalan Gatot Subroto in March 2015.

Previously, this bus was flooded for more than 30 hours in Sunter, North Jakarta, so it had to be dismantled and repaired by APM Zhong Tong.

During the operation, Zhongtong reportedly experienced frequent strikes. Until finally, Transjakarta withdrew 30 units of Zhongtong to be grounded.

This bus has also generated controversy because it was the object of corruption. Former Head of DKI Jakarta Transportation Agency Udar Pristono was then sentenced to 13 years in prison in the TransJakarta bus procurement case in 2012 and 2013.

The many problems with the buses from China made the former Governor of DKI Jakarta Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) angry. A total of 30 Zhongtong buses were suspended. He gave up on buying Zhongtong buses for future procurement.

Unexpectedly, the Zhongtong bus started up again last October. DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan said public transportation users in Jakarta continue to increase every year. With the emergence of TransJakarta Zhongtong to help transport DKI residents in carrying out their daily activities.

"In 2017, the number of passengers on our land transportation system was 300 thousand passengers per day, obtained after 13 years of running," said Anies, Wednesday, October 16.

Head of the Corporate Secretary and Public Relations Division of PT Transportation Jakarta (Transjakarta) Nadia Diposanjoyo explained the reason for the re-operation of this bus was because it was a form of implementation of the 2013 contract agreement which then arrived in Jakarta in 2016.

The operator of the Zhongtong Bus, namely the Djakarta Passenger Transport Corporation (PPD) has not completed its contract.

Moreover, in July 2018, the Indonesian National Arbitration Board (BANI) issued a decision so that Transjakarta could operate the Zhong Thong bus based on the unfinished contract. Based on the existing contract, there should be 59 Zhong Thong buses operated.

"This is the story of the implementation of a contract that PPD could not fulfill at that time. So that a penalty was issued and it could only be fulfilled according to the contract," said Nadia.

Having only been re-paving for one month this year, Zhongtong again made a bad track record for broadcasting indecent videos and was finally locked up.

"We are currently stopping the bus, so we will check everything. We are investigating why it happened," said PT TransJakarta President Director Agung Wicaksono at City Hall, Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan, Central Jakarta, Thursday, November 14.

According to Agung's explanation, the viewing of vulgar videos on the Zhongtong bus is managed by PPD as one of the TransJakarta operators.

Agung said, TransJakarta does not only operate its own buses. There are buses run by operators who are paid and must meet standards. If it does not meet the standards, of course there will be sanctions.

"One, if it is said (the video is) an advertisement, it is not allowed to be an advertisement. The advertisement must be one door through TJ, the contract is clear, there is no operator (showing) the ad itself. Second, the content must be checked. Must be approved," explained Agung .

"The third, he said, is not an advertisement. This is a video clip used to check the monitor screen. Well, this is also clearly wrong because the procedure (the monitor screen) should not be left and played by the driver," he added.