Exclusive, IPOMI Chairman Kurnia Lesani Adnan Says Electric Buses are Suitable for Within Cities, AKAP is Not Yet Suitable

The scarcity of petroleum due to the impact of the Middle East conflict makes electric vehicles more attractive. However, according to the Chairman of the Indonesian Young Bus Entrepreneurs Association (IPOMI), Kurnia Lesani Adnan, electric buses for the city or short distance can already be applied. On the other hand, for the Inter-provincial Inter-provincial Bus (AKAP), it is considered still not feasible.

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There are two most crucial problems in applying electric buses for AKAP transportation. First, according to Sani - as he is usually called - the Public Electric Vehicle Charging Station (SPKLU) is still not evenly distributed throughout Indonesia. Second, the charging time at the SPKLU is still relatively long.

"Electric buses for the city are still possible, but for AKAP buses it is still not possible. The problem is that the charging time is long and the SPKLU is not even. Filling the fuel takes about 5-10 minutes, while charging at the SPKLU can be 1-2 hours longer. We are still waiting for charging technology that is faster than now," he said.

As an entrepreneur and owner of the Bus Company (PO), Kurnia Lesani Adnan does not dare to speculate on using electric buses for the AKAP line before the two main problems are resolved.

Regarding the conflict in the Middle East, Sani expressed appreciation and gratitude for the government's policy of not raising the price of subsidized fuel until the end of 2026. However, he added that the distribution mechanism needed to be evaluated to be more targeted.

"I propose the distribution of subsidized fuel through the Samsat Online application," he explained to Edy Suherli, Bambang Eros, and Irfan Meidianto when visiting the VOI office in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, March 7, 2026.

The war in the Middle East has triggered fluctuations in world oil prices. How worried are you about the stability of fuel prices in Indonesia today?

In a war situation like this, it is indeed difficult. But looking back, we have also experienced a situation that is no less difficult. There was a 1998 monetary crisis and continued to 2000 to 2005; at that time low-cost aircraft (low-cost carrier - LCC) were mushrooming. These two things are very heavy tests and thank God we can pass them.

As an illustration, our PO, SAN (Siliwangi Antar Nusa), which serves the Bengkulu - Jakarta route, the ticket price is Rp. 185,000, while the LCC is Rp. 225,000 in 2000. Logically, if people choose LCC because the difference is small, while the travel time is very different; plane 1 hour, bus 24 hours. However, we are grateful that the bus is still trusted by the community. Therefore, we are optimistic that in the future there will still be many people who are more comfortable with land transportation.

"That is an example of Sumatra to Java, what about in Java?

In Java, the challenge is even heavier. In addition to LCC, there is also a train. The veil began to open since 2014-2015 after the Trans-Java toll began to be connected. At the same time, LCC began selling tickets at a logical price, no longer a price deal as before. And we were able to get through those difficult times. The strength of the land transportation mode is that the passengers can get off and always "touch the earth", can see the land.

"But not all bus companies can go through this difficult time?"

Not everyone can survive. Those who can survive are those who are able to manage the company with good management; manage HR and implement SOP to serve the community wholeheartedly. The technical team can take care of the vehicle well so that efficiency emerges. How to train drivers and crew to operate vehicles reasonably, not run fast, so that passengers are comfortable. So, the PO who can survive is the one who can control efficiency.

Why is efficiency important?

Being efficient does not mean reducing services to passengers, but how the crew can make the vehicle's life as long as possible so that maintenance costs (maintenance costs) decrease. If fuel is difficult to save; no matter how good the driver is, 1 liter of solar fuel is an average of 3.5 km - 4 km.

In addition, driver professionalism is also an important factor. Therefore, I am very concerned about this. Before the driver is on duty, it must be ensured that he understands professionalism in service. Before driving a bus, he must be aware that he is a passenger servant. From here will arise efficiency.

The government through the Minister of Finance Purbaya confirmed that subsidized fuel would not rise until the end of the year. Your response?

What Mr. Purbaya conveyed was something that was encouraging for us. We appreciate and thank you. But what needs to be known, inflation in the transportation sector has been happening since 2022. Fluctuations in the rupiah exchange rate against the dollar make vehicle spare parts prices also affected. Then the previous Minister of Finance raised the VAT.

"With this condition, we can't immediately raise ticket prices. The reason is that the purchasing power of our people is still weak. Bus users are middle-low class, our brothers are informal workers. So this situation is a challenge for us; how about the price remains, the service to passengers does not decrease and the community is still served. So, business continues to run to maintain business sustainability.

If later the government changes the policy for subsidized fuel, what can you anticipate?

"If that is a policy that the government cannot avoid, we have to make adjustments. Our passengers are middle class and below; if one family has its own car and has two or three children, they will choose to use private vehicles because it is more economical. Unless there are only one or two people, of course it is more economical to take the bus.

What can be done is to take care of the vehicle in an orderly and strict manner so that efficiency occurs. In terms of fuel, it is difficult to save. And about the salaries of drivers and crew, it is impossible for us to cut; if that is done, it will be more problematic.

What percentage of the total expenditure of a bus PO is the fuel element?

"Of all the road cost components, fuel is 40%, so it's huge. If there is an issue of fuel price increases, it will be a trigger for us to adjust ticket prices.

The government's commitment until the end of the year is not to raise the price of subsidized fuel. Before the end of the year, what will you and other bus entrepreneurs do?

"Alhamdulillah, we have just completed the task of delivering people who have returned home and the return flow after celebrating Eid al-Fitr. We express our gratitude to the public who still trust bus transportation. Public interest is still very high. To my friends entrepreneurs, I also thank you; indeed yesterday there was an accident, but it was not too big.

After Lebaran, June and July have long holidays. If the statistics are still stable, God willing, until the end of the year we will survive at the current ticket price. But if the situation worsens, we will recalculate. Honestly, the most difficult thing is spare parts; it cannot be compromised because it depends on the fluctuation of the rupiah. This is a pretty tough challenge.

"As entrepreneurs, we may agree to the increase in fuel so that we can also raise ticket prices. But as servants of the community, not so much. Because the need and demand are very sensitive to pricing. Currently, our competitors are not fellow POs, trains, or planes, but private vehicles and motorcycles.

So, for this year's Lebaran transportation, how is the evaluation?

"This year's Lebaran is smooth and relatively safe. In terms of revenue, it is slightly lower than last year during the same period.

What made the income during Lebaran this year decrease?

"The vacation period is long and there is a WFA (work from anywhere) system, so private vehicles come out in large numbers. This reduces the enthusiasm to ride the bus. If possible, the issue of vacation should be agreed upon from the beginning by all stakeholders. SKB Three Ministers during the holidays sometimes encourage people to use private vehicles. If the goal is to save fuel, especially when it is difficult like now, the government should direct people to use public transportation.

So for 2026, are you still optimistic?

"We must always be optimistic even though the current situation is difficult. As an individual, I give input that the distribution of subsidized fuel with the MyPertamina barcode is weak and easy to be broken. Weakly like this: every vehicle that is allocated 200 liters, when scanned the quota only appears 60 liters. Well, where is the remaining 140 liters? Only God and this system know. Then when the barcode is blocked with the alleged fuel launcher, this triggers a commotion with the gas station officer. Is this Perpres about subsidized fuel fully implemented? No. Mining vehicles can actually still buy subsidized fuel. This must be disciplined.

According to you, what is the solution to distributing subsidized fuel if it is not through the MyPertamina barcode?

"Before the war in the Middle East broke out, we had sent a letter to the Minister of Finance Purbaya to divert the distribution of subsidized fuel through Samsat Online. With this model, the government can lock: vehicles that pay taxes can fill fuel, and vice versa. If the MyPertamina barcode model, everyone can fill it. This will encourage people to pay taxes and save fuel. But the implementation must be orderly.

Then the policies of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Industry, and the Ministry of Transportation regarding this fuel are not connected. They should sit together. The solar used now is below standard, even though we are required to have Euro 4 and Euro 5 standards. "Rotten solar" (used in us) is not used abroad. Expect emissions of a certain size but the solar is rotten. So between ministries and agencies must synergize and collaborate.

"This PO has helped people to transport, what is the government's contribution to the PO?"

"The fact is, we subsidize the community. When inflation occurs, our ticket prices are held so that people's purchasing power is up. There are strong POs, and many POs have fallen. Those who survive are those who can be efficient and position themselves as servants of the community.

What innovations can be done so that this PO business can run smoothly?

First, we have to make sure that the ticket price is affordable, the service is professional, and safety is the main factor that cannot be negotiated. These three things we can do. If you innovate by making various types of buses such as sleeper buses, compartment buses, and others, the market is there but a little. It does not count in terms of business.

How do you discipline drivers and crew who do not comply with SOP?

"I emphasize to them, with today's technology, not only the company that oversees, but also the public through social media. Companies must accept input from the public through social media as well. This is what we instill in drivers and all crew. Any complaints that come in we respond to and cross-check the information. Must be firm: want to change or not work in this company anymore.

The key to success is understanding this industry; that way the business runs. Don't turn it around, do business by serving. So for me, we serve first, then take the money.

War impacts soaring fuel prices, meaning electric vehicles are the way to go?

Yes, the government has indeed campaigned for electric vehicles by giving subsidies. However, at this time the number is not yet able to match the fuel vehicle. The limitation of SPKLU and charging time is also an important note for electric vehicles.

What are the opportunities for electric vehicles for AKAP buses?

Electric buses for the city are still possible, but for AKAP buses it is still not possible. The reason is that the charging time is still long and the SPKLU is not even. Fuel is about 5-10 minutes, charging at the SPKLU 1-2 hours more. We are still waiting for faster charging technology than now.

For speed, can the battery swap model be applied?

It is also not easy for AKAP. If it is two wheels, we see that there is a refill at minimarkets and SPKLU because the capacity is a little bit. How many times is the battery of the bus? There is still a lot of homework to apply electric buses for AKAP.

Kurnia Lesani Adnan, or more familiarly called Om Sani on social media, has been very involved in bus affairs and the Bus Company (PO) which he has handled since he was young. When his father, Hasanuddin Adnan, founded the goods transportation company Siliwangi Antar Nusa (SAN) in 1978 which later developed into a PO on January 30, 1990, he had indeed joined from the beginning.

Sani really grew up with SAN. Together with his father and brothers, they raised a small PO to grow as it is now. "Because I have been very passionate about bus and PO issues, I feel more like handling SAN," said the man born in Bengkulu, June 20, 1977.

In fact, said Sani, he had been helping his father since PO SAN was established, but not directly. "I really joined when I was 13 years old. After graduating from SMP, my involvement increased. I've been delivering passengers and helping my father buy spare parts. I feel it was only yesterday, even though the calendar count has been 34 years since I joined," said Sani, who has been close to the bus since he was a toddler because their house in Bengkulu is in the PO pool.

If it is said to do something from the heart, that is what Sani did at SAN. "I joined it was really a desire in my heart. Indeed, before founding the PO SAN, my father gathered his children about the business that would be run and he invited his children who could join," said Sani while telling that before founding SAN, his father had worked at PO Bengkulu Indah.

Since he was a child, Sanimemang has often been invited by his father to check the bus, buy spare parts, and take care of other bus needs. "Of the five brothers, I am the laziest in school. I only went to semester 1 at Gunadarma Department of Transportation Management. Don't ask me what the report is, it lights up the color, hehe," he joked.

Aware of this condition, Sani has the principle that it is okay not to have a diploma, as long as you don't have the ability. Rather than having a diploma but when tested it turns out that you are not capable. "I said to myself and to God, ask for the opportunity to prove my dedication to helping raise SAN and develop myself in the transportation industry, especially PO. Alhamdulillah, I have been through 34 years," said this alumnus of STM PGRI Budi Utomo 4 Jakarta.

When he was still in STM, Sani often skipped school if the SAN bus had a problem or a strike on the road. "If I can get a pager message from my father or mother that the car is broken, I will immediately jump in. I can get to Bukit Kemuning, Lampung, and Baturaja, South Sumatra. If the driver is sick, I will also skip and become a substitute driver. When someone charters a bus while the driver is not ready, I will also take the bus," explained Sani, who has been the CEO of SAN since 2002, when his legal entity changed from CV to PT.

The involvement from the beginning of the establishment of SAN makes him really understand this business. "People now say my passion is indeed in the bus world. My wife understands that when the night is suddenly called to a bus accident, I immediately jump in. Thank God now I have delegated it, but I still monitor from a distance the team that handles accidents," said Sani who is very strict in implementing company rules. For him, there is no child's business when he is at the office; the company structure is the one that applies.

The main focus when there is an accident, continued Sani, is the passenger is safe. "Sometimes until dawn I have to wake up, make sure all passengers are safe, then I can sleep," he said.

One important lesson taught by his father is: when doing something, do it with pleasure. "It's really ingrained in my soul. I who have grown up in a conducive environment from the beginning are happier to do this job. There must be fatigue, but it all pays off after being able to solve a problem," he said while adding that his mother was also involved as a PO SAN ticket seller.

"My father said, do something with sincerity, the results will follow after that. If nothing has been achieved, it has demanded results, so if it is not achieved, it will be frustrating," continued Sani who lived a life without fuss. "I enjoy life, live as it is, and be grateful for what I can get."

According to Sani, the key to the success of PO SAN - which from the beginning only had a few fleets to almost a hundred buses and serves routes from Bengkulu to a number of major cities in Java and Sumatra - is concern. "If you talk about PO, if you want to make money by serving, it's better to cancel buying a bus. Because it won't find the number. But if you are aware and able to serve, yes bismillah. It will be more valuable," he said. He and his brother have agreed that the third generation wants to join SAN, the condition is that they must first work at another company.

Sani's grip as head of SAN is the mandate of his parents who want this PO to be beneficial for the family and the community. "So we are pursuing its sustainability just to be useful. Not for a luxurious life and to achieve worldly glory," said Kurnia Lesani Adnan.

"If as an entrepreneur, we agree to raise fuel so that we can also raise ticket prices. But if as a servant of the community, not so much. Because need and demand are very sensitive to pricing,"

Kurnia Lesani Adnan