Burned Bus Stop, Government Must Rebuild Public Trust

JAKARTA - A number of Transjakarta bus stops in Jakarta were targeted by the masses, leading to the burning of massive demonstrations in Jakarta in the past week.

Transportation observer Muhamad Akbar assesses that the destruction of the Transjakarta bus stop is a symptom of a more complex problem, namely social inequality, communication failure and fragility of aspiration channels.

"The solution is not enough just to rebuild the physical structure. We need to restore trust, strengthen social engagement, and make the bus stop a symbol of the presence of a humane country," said Muhamad Akbar in his statement, Thursday, September 4, 2025.

According to Akbar, the Transjakarta bus stop, apart from functioning as a public facility, must also be a symbol of the strength of the city of Jakarta in terms of transportation modes.

"Cities that favor their citizens start from strong stops physically, social values, and representatively," he said.

Akbar assessed that supervision and maintenance of the Transjakarta bus stop in Jakarta is a shared responsibility. This is because the Transjakarta bus stop does not only belong to the government, but belongs to all workers, students, housewives, and the elderly.

"From the bus stop, we can start to rebuild the broken trust between residents, public spaces, and the state," he said.

Akbar said that the bus stop that was damaged by being the target of mass anger was not only material losses, but also the dignity of the city, self-respect, a common living space.

"Maintaining it means taking care of ourselves, because the bus stop is our daily meeting point, the waiting room that brings together various backgrounds," he said.

Just so you know, the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government noted that six Transjakarta bus stops were damaged by being burned by an unknown crowd in a demonstration in the past week.

The six bus stops that were damaged during demonstrations in a number of areas were the Polda Metro Jaya Bus Stop, Senen Toyota Rangga Bus Stop, Senen Central Bus Stop, Senayan Bus Stop Bank DKI, Youth Gate Stop, and Senayan Roundabout Bus Stop.