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Indonesia to Look into State Railway Company After String of Accidents

Posted on: Monday, 4 July 2005, 09:00 CDT

Indonesia to look into state railway company after string of accidents

JAKARTA, July 3 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla said here on Sunday the government has sent two senior officials to look into various problems in the state-run railway company in the wake of frequent railway accidents.

Kalla made the remarks when attending the National Family Day and the World Population Day here on Sunday morning.

On the frequent railway accidents in the country, the vice president said the management of the state railway company PT KAI must be held responsible for the mishap.

"We indeed see problems in the company including those on the infrastructure, discipline, subsidy for the company and lower ticket prices. In principle, there must be total improvement in the company," the vice president said.

Kalla said the government had appointed the transportation minister and the state minister for state enterprises to improve the railway company's performance.

On the replacement of PT KAI President Director Umar Berto, he said it is still under consideration.

Earlier, State Minister for State Enterprises Sugiharto said he would replace PT KAI's directors soon in an effort to improve the company's performance.

According to Sugiharto, the company's directors would be replaced not merely because of the recent railway accident in Pasar Minggu area in Jakarta but because of their expiring terms of office.

Two people were killed and 103 others wounded after a commuter train hit another in the back in Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta, last Thursday.

Altogether seven train accidents have been reported in the past six months in the country, equaling the total number in 2004. PT KAI's management problems were put under limelight due to the string of accidents.

Source: Xinhua News Agency - CEIS

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