Observers Call Train Accidents Recently Due To Budget Efficiency

Transportation observer Djoko Setijowarno assesses that the recent train accident (KA) has fallen due to the government's budget efficiency has an impact on transportation safety.

For your information, the incident where KA fell occurred on Friday, August 1, involved the Argo Bromo Anggrek train at the Pegadenbaru Station, Subang, West Java. A few days later, a similar incident occurred involving Commuter Line No. 1189 Bogor-Jakarta City relations on the emblasis of Jakarta City Station. Most recently, the Kuala Stabas train also experienced a similar incident on Way Kanan Lampung.

"The budget efficiency, the safety budget is reduced, (so) the accidents that arise," he told VOI, Wednesday, August 6.

Djoko said the train maintenance was included in the Infrastructure Maintenance and Operations (IMO) which was budgeted by the government, then given to PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) or KAI as the operator.

According to Djoko, along with the increasing number of train users, the train maintenance budget or IMO should also increase, not decrease.

"If the safety is trimmed, yes, just wait. Continue to crash. Anyway, programs with safety (budget) should not be cut," he said.

Djoko said that even if the Ministry of Transportation's budget was cut in the context of budget efficiency, the Minister of Transportation, Dudy Purwagandhi, should have conveyed to President Prabowo Subianto and Finance Minister Sri Mulyani regarding the importance of the transportation safety budget.

Moreover, said Djoko, the Minister of Transportation has echelon 1 assistants who have competence in their respective fields, such as the Director General and Expert Staff, as well as Special Staff and Experts.

"They can be asked for input so that the safety budget at the Ministry of Transportation is not cut for efficiency. Then, the input is submitted to the President and Minister of Finance," he said.

According to Djoko, the current accident in the railway sector shows the failure of the Minister of Transportation, Dudy Purwagandhi, informing the importance of transportation safety. Moreover, he said, in general, the duties and functions of the Ministry of Transportation are safety and service.

"If it is cut, it is not the president's fault, but the mistake in the Minister of Transportation who did not inform the importance of transportation safety," he explained.