Luhut Rejects The Proposal To Stop KRL During PSBB From RK And Anies

Monday Market Station (Angga Nugraha / VOI)

JAKARTA - The Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment (Menko Marves) who is also the Minister for Ad Interim Transportation, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan rejected the proposal of West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil and DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan to stop the operation of the electric railroad (KRL) starting April 18 tomorrow.

Spokesperson for the Coordinating Minister for Marves, Jodi Mahardi, said that Luhut would continue to operate KRL with time restrictions and passenger control, starting from 05.00 WIB to 18.00 WIB.

"Coordinating Minister Luhut received reports that the majority of KRL passengers are workers. So we also do not want those who work in health facilities to be affected if the KRL is stopped operating," Jodi told reporters, Friday, April 17.

Jodi said Luhut understood that Ridwan Kamil and Anies Baswedan's proposal to stop the KRL was made on the grounds that the level of COVID-19 transmission in the Jabodetabek commuter train public transportation was still high.

However, he said, there were still a number of business sectors that were allowed to operate during the Large-Scale Social Restriction (PSBB) period in Jabodetabek. They are engaged in health, food, energy, communication and information technology, finance, logistics, hospitality, construction, strategic industries, basic services, and fulfillment of daily needs.

Workers in this field still need mass transportation modes such as KRL to go to their workplaces. So, if the KRL operation is stopped, this can actually cause new problems.

After all, according to Jodi, the implementation of the PSBB would only run effectively if all excluded offices followed the rules set by the regional government not to operate. If there are still stubborn people, then they must be dealt with in accordance with the rules that have been made.

"The Governor's Regulation (about PSBB) clearly stipulates that offices outside the sector that are excluded must be prohibited and closed during the PSBB period. So this should be a stepping stone to really supervise and take firm action against offices that are still stubborn and violate the Pergub. "said Jodi.

#KCINews PT. KCI continues to operate KRL trips, Saturday, April 18, 2020 with an operating pattern in accordance with the enactment of Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB). Information on KRL schedules can be seen through the website https://t.co/eskeiM9ufz with the following link: https://t.co/s1pOedREPz I1

- Commuter Line Info (@CommuterLine) April 17, 2020

Previously, a number of regional heads in Jabodetabek wanted to stop KRL operations during the PSBB period to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

"I, two days ago, proposed to the Minister of Transportation Ad Interim (Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan) that commuter train operations be stopped during the PSBB activities. They are currently discussing," said DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan, Thursday, April 16.

West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil also proposed a complete shutdown of the Commuterline KRL operation during the PSBB period. In fact, the man who is called Kang Emil has suggested that the stopping will start on April 18.