Anies Collaborating On Electric Bus Expansion With European Companies, PDIP: Not Touching People's Needs

Governor Anies Baswedan (first from right) during the MOU for the purchase of electric buses/Photo: VOI

JAKARTA - Member of the PDIP faction of the DKI Jakarta DPRD, Gilbert Simanjuntak, views that the cooperation established by the Governor of DKI Jakarta Anies Baswedan with companies from Europe regarding the expansion of the use of electric buses is not very beneficial for the people.

Gilbert views that the electric vehicles that are included in Anies' work program campaign do not include the urgent needs of citizens at this time. Given, the price of electric vehicles is still quite expensive.

"The results of the governor's visit to Europe to use electric cars also do not touch the needs of the people today. Electric cars are a future need, while electric cars are currently too expensive a burden because the price of batteries is almost the price of a car," Gilbert said in his statement, Friday, May 27.

Gilbert views that the public transportation needed in Jakarta today is a proper diesel or gas-based car. As well as, adding more fleets and refueling facilities.

Meanwhile, Gilbert continued, PT Transjakarta BUMD used a number of regional capital investment (PMD) budgets to polish dozens of bus stops. In fact, the budget can be used to improve the management and operations of Transjakarta, whose buses are often involved in accidents.

"It shouldn't be a polished/repaired stop as an urgent matter. However, adding lanes, frequency and increasing comfort on the bus are not even a priority," said Gilbert.

For information, DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan toured three European countries, namely London (UK), Berlin (Germany), and Paris (France) for eight days since last Tuesday, May 10.

Anies went to Europe to follow up on a number of collaborations, including the MoU between PT Transport Jakarta and Switch Mobility, data management and research collaboration with Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) to support the plan to operate electric-powered vehicles as a whole by 2030, as well as the MoU between PT MRT Jakarta with International Crossrail.