Thousands of public transport and taxi drivers have postponed a second massive anti-app-based transportation rally until Tuesday (March 22), after failing to secure police permits in time.
The rally is expected to bring even more protestors than last week, which saw 2,000 drivers protest against Uber and GrabCar, claiming the apps fail to comply with the 2009 Road Traffic Law.
Land Transportation Drivers Association (PPAD) spokesman Daelami said drivers had postponed the action after Jakarta Police confirmed a rally permit had been issued for Tuesday.
โIn the beginning, we proposed to rally on Monday, but police refused to issue the permit,โ Daelami said on late Sunday, as reported by Detik.com.
The activities of taxi and other public transport on Monday will remain as normal, he said.
The rally on Tuesday is expected to see more than 10,000 drivers participate.
Protestors are scheduled to start the rally at 9 a.m. at the House of Representatives Complex on Jalan Gatot Subroto in South Jakarta. Representatives of the drivers association will also meet with the Communications Ministry.
The protest comes after a government decision last week to allow the app-based transportation companies operate as a cooperative, known as the Indonesian Car Rental Cooperative (PPRI).
The cooperative was officially recognized by the Ministry for Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises last Wednesday, following talks between the company, officials from the newly established cooperative and SMEs Minister Anak Agung Gede Puspayoga.
GrabCar along with similar ride-sharing application Uber, has been met with great criticism from taxi and public transportation operators since they were first introduced. With their incomes declining, the operators said the newcomers should be banned for violating the 2009 Road Traffic Law, under which they are not recognized as a form of public transportation.
The argument has won over some key officials, most notably Transportation Minister Ignasius Jonan who issued a letter in November banning all app-based ride-hailing services, including motorcycle taxi apps GoJek and GrabBike.
The move was overruled by President Joko Widodo less than 24 hours after the letter was issued.
WHAT TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS ARTICLE:
- The protest comes after a government decision last week to allow the app-based transportation companies operate as a cooperative, known as the Indonesian Car Rental Cooperative (PPRI).
- The rally is expected to bring even more protestors than last week, which saw 2,000 drivers protest against Uber and GrabCar, claiming the apps fail to comply with the 2009 Road Traffic Law.
- With their incomes declining, the operators said the newcomers should be banned for violating the 2009 Road Traffic Law, under which they are not recognized as a form of public transportation.
