Permata Hijau Flyover Avoids One Level Crossing

Jakarta is famous for its traffic jams. People are accustomed to cars and motorcycles packing on Jakarta streets. The number of cars and motorcycles are increasing significantly but very little new roads are built. To cope with this grave situation, Jakarta City Government built flyovers in several places especially above the roads crossing the peripheral railway track to curb the possible accidents colliding with the train. 

One of them is Permata Hijau flyover built crossing the railway Tanah Abang-Rangkasbitung completed in the first week of January 2016. Its length measured 533 meters and 12-meter height with a construction cost of Rp131 billion. 

Prior to the construction of the flyover, the road connecting Permata Hijau and Senayan is always packed with cars and motorcycles in the morning and afternoon especially at the spot where the road crosses over the railway tracks causing people to be late to go to offices or be back home in the afternoon.

The contractor was able to complete such a huge task successfully especially when they had to set the construction during the rainy season. Believe it or not, although we live in the modern era, a rumor circulated that while constructing the flyover the contractor hired 12 metaphysicists from Kalimantan, Central Java, and Banten to prevent the rain from falling down at the constructional area, thus, preserve the quality of wet cement from degrading. 

Though it is contrary to the logic, some people still use the service of metaphysicists to prevent rain in a wedding or cultural ceremony and performance but it looks funny when applied for civil construction work such Permata Hijau Flyover. 

Notwithstanding just few hundred meters from the flyover, there is a small pathway crossing the railway that some people still drive their cars and motorcycles across causing the danger of collision with the train remains. There are some free-lance boys (popularly called Pak Ogah) who guard the railway-crossing, but they work occasionally.

It seems that the purpose of Permata Hijau flyover construction which costs hundreds of billions of rupiah is in vain. The public discipline should be strongly held. The attitude of the government towards the people’s indiscipline is too weak especially to those considered as marginal such those who occupy the railway track or river banks.

We are waiting for firm action from the local authority. We can no longer tolerate people who don’t mind with the government effort to manage the traffic spending billon of rupiah. On behalf of orderliness, people should be ready to just take a little tour using the new imposing flyover built to make life better.

Local Culinary: 'Obama' Nasi Goreng

Nasi goreng is one of the Indonesian national dishes served in a plastic plate at a roadside food stall, on porcelain in restaurants, or collected from the buffet tables of Jakarta dinner parties. Its origin is supposed to be from Southern Chinese, just like mie goreng which origin is more obvious. Some guess that the acculturation began at the era of Srivijaya or Majapahit around the 15th century when local people simply dried the leftover rice to make rice cracker instead of fried rice as the Chinese did.

 

Nasi goreng refers to fried pre-cooked rice accompanied with ingredients, particularly onions, chili, cucumber, tomatoes, fried eggs alternately added with chicken and prawns or salted dried fish. Some common condiments are fried onion, crackers, pickles and chili sauce.

While most Indonesian households serve it for breakfast, nasi goreng is also a popular choice for late night supper served by street vendors, in stalls and also by traveling night hawkers that frequent Indonesian residential neighborhoods with their wheeled carts. 

Nasi goreng is considered as Indonesian national dish, although it is also popular in Malaysia and Singapore. In the Netherlands, Indonesian cuisine is common due to the historical colonial ties with Indonesia. Indonesian migrants (or their offspring) cater Indonesian food both in restaurants and as a takeaway. This national dish is consumed by all layers of societies as its price varies widely from the cheapest one enjoyed in its simplest manifestation served in plastic plates at a roadside food stall to fancy restaurants and five-star hotels.

In 2011 CNN International held an online poll on  Indonesian nasi goreng followed by 35,000 people and the result showed that nasi goreng was chosen as the number two of their 'World’s 50 Most Delicious Foods' list after rendang. Even Barrack Obama, the current President of the United Stated of America, is quite accustomed to this meal because he used to eat it in his childhood while living in Indonesia. His Indonesian culinary does not stop there; bakso (meatballs), satay and rambutan (hairy fruit) are also among his favorites. 

The strong memory related to the taste of these two kinds of meals has made him still long for them and try to eat either of the two at any possible chances. During his visit to Indonesia, he seemed to take a chance to satisfy his longing appetite.

Wanting to try Nasi Goreng in some food stalls and restaurants around Jakarta?

Have a nice taste!

1. Avara Lounge, Epicentrum Walk, Lantai 2, Jl. HR Rasuna Said, Kuningan
2. Nasi goreng Bhakti, Jalan Bhakti, Blok S, Kebayoran Baru
3. Nasi goreng Cirebon Jl. Paus Raya, Rawamangun
4. Nasi goreng Gila Taman Menteng, Jalan HOS. Cokroaminoto, Menteng.
5. Nasi goreng Gila Liem, Jalan Kebagusan Raya, Kecamatan Pasar Minggu
6. Nasi goring Ikan Asin Alila Jl. Pecenongan
7. Nasi goreng Ijo Tole, Jl. Panglima Polim X, Melawai
8. Nasi goreng Kambing Kebon Sirih, Jl. Kebon Sirih Barat, Menteng
9. RM Legoh Senopati, Pasar Santa, Lantai 1, Jl. Cipaku I, Senopati
10. Lokananta, / Jl. Panglima Polim 2 No. 2, Melawai
11. Nasi goreng Mafia, Jl. Tebet Raya No. 27 D, Tebet
12. Kedai Pelangi, Jl. H. Agus Salim No. 18B, Menteng

Pinkan Indonesia di Seni Budaya Nusntara Jakarta

Unpopular Jokowi’s Letter on Cheap Car to Vice President

Jokowi, the popular Jakarta Governor sent a letter to Vice President calling for the postponement for the sales of the low-cost green car (LCGC) in Jakarta. E.E. Mangindaan, the Minister of Transportation, wanted that the LCGC program should be carried out in line with the road infrastructure availability in the country. “The number of cheap cars should not be excessive because the infrastructure is not yet sufficient”, said he.

One may consider such a letter and statement as controversial. Most of the reasons that the opponents of the LCGC program have put forward are related to traffic problems. They show their worry that the traffic in the big cities will be stagnant as the infrastructures that are available would not be able to afford the additional LCGC.

But Jakarta does not reflect the image of Indonesia. In many small cities in the country, one may count with his fingers the vehicles that run on the road. After twilight, the roads in those cities are almost deserted. Obviously, the LCGCs are suitable for such cities. The LCGC is classified as the one which consumes one liter for 28 kilometer-distance, has 60 percent local content and the selling price below Rp 75 million  (US $6,800). Just a couple days after launching, almost 18,000 cheap cars have been sold out where most the buyers are those who live in Jakarta and nearby cities.

Low and middle-class people are eager to buy such cars as they cannot afford to buy a normal car which price beyond their purchasing power and buy motorcycles instead. Now having such a low price car available, some of them may convert from riding motorcycles to cheap cars. The haves may also buy the car as a second [or higher] vehicle especially for their kids.

The number of cars in Indonesia compared to its population is among the lowest in the world around one car for 40 people, compared that of the developed countries which ratio is 1:3. The availability of the LCGC will certainly increase the car population in Indonesia. Huge investment up to US$ 3.5 billion is required and it might absorb thousands of workers to fabricate the cars.

Definitely the LCGC mass productions will give a positive impact on the country economy as they improve the quality of the private transportation mode in term of fuel saving, transportation efficiency as compared to bigger and expensive cars, the condition of transportation mode especially for those using motorcycles and, last but not least, the environment.

However, a big controversy has arisen as the government launches the beginning of the mass production of LCGC. Isn’t that the people car (“mobil rakyat”) that the country is longing for? The car which is not exclusively for the haves but also for middle and lower class? Of course, to become a national people car, it is hoped that at the latest stage the local content would be close to 100 percent.

How come that we should against the relatively poor people for having a little comfort by possessing LCGC replacing their motorcycles in favor of the relatively rich people enjoying their “luxury” cars? Shouldn't we have the opposite standpoint by encouraging people to have LCGC as it gives so many benefits for the low income people?

Mr. Governor, we understood of your apprehension on the Jakarta traffic jams as they are already aggravated. But don’t you consider to impose the luxury car (more than 3000 ccs) usage limitation, by for example allowing them to circulate only beyond the office time instead of limiting the LCGC? Or more radically proposing to limit the production of the 3000 cc-cars or higher rather than that of LCGC?

The postponement of the cheap car mass productions will be a blunder as it will cause Indonesia to suffer a big loss, as by 2015 any ASEAN countries under AFTA can easily export their cheap cars into their neighboring countries. They have kept eyes to take any opportunities to inundate their cheap cars here and certainly will establish their sole agents in our country for selling their home-made cheap car. 

Enhancing the Railway Transportation, Better Late than Never

Looking at the railway transportation in Indonesia always gives us a negative perception of the poor undertaking. People always associate this mode of transportation with the bad image of illegal ragged shelters covering the railway banks and semi-legal stalls occupy the station platform and parking lots. Crowded passengers squatting on the top of the carriages worsen the already bleak image, which by any standard violates the very basic safety rules. 

The problem is so eye-catching and persistent. Why? The root of the problem should not come from the railway mismanagement alone, but largely from the public attitude that the public service should be cheap no matter how big is the operation cost of the related service. Probably there is still residual mindset among Indonesian people that in the independence era, people are free and should not pay or pay very little for the public services they need.

And what consequences we get from this misleading belief? The railway situations in the country become degrading because of significant reduction of the length of the railway tracks as a result of dismantlement almost all side tracks preserving only the main tracks along Java island and little parts in Sumatra. Barely new tracks and new stations have been built in the country since the independence day.

The main cause of this gloomy situation is clearly triggered by the imbalanced competition between railway transportation versus car transportation. However, society’s wrong attitude that train tariff should be very cheap worsen the situation. The tariffs which are far lower than the operating cost cause the railway company hardly capable of replacing any broken components forcing the management to sacrifice the passenger comfort and the image of such mode of transportation.

The situation makes many officers who is responsible to handle the operation lose their innovative spirit. The railway business environment in the country is so degraded that it becomes a public secret that many railway employees feel at ease dealing with the stalls and the shelter's owners to gain some regular petty cash as though their behavior is a normal one.

Such tattered picture of the railway conditions has dragged on for years, part because of imbalance between cheap ticket policy versus government subsidies. This pro-poor attitude is the right policy put in the wrong place. The tariffs plus the government subsidy should be enough to meet, at least, the operational cost and if possible to improve and develop the carriage armada and the station conditions.

Enough is enough. Even a public service such as railway business requires modern management and ambitious, dynamic and innovative leadership. Good examples could be drawn from quite successful public services such as post office, state-owned pawn shops and in larger scale Garuda air carrier. Under the current action that railway management has taken, it seems that our wish to have better public transportation will come true.

Various efforts have been taken to eliminate illegal passengers sitting on the roof of the carriage though resistance still can be found here and there. Even at certain spot, the railway entrance gates with electric wire are erected so that people don’t dare to sit on the carriage roof.

Railway officers have managed to demolish kiosks at the station platforms and parking lots, especially those in big cities. The bigger step is still needed, however, to demolish shelters constructed along the rails, as they might endanger the railway passage.  

The implementation of E-ticket system is certainly a big leap in modernizing Indonesian railway. The board of management realizes that under the condition where many passengers have no tickets or holding used tickets have put the company into a big loss. The crowded carriages worsen the condition where conductors are impossible to execute their duties to check all passengers' tickets.

But now, under E-ticket system passengers can only enter the entrance gate or get out of the exit gate by introducing the ticket on or into card-reader installed in the gates guaranteeing that all passengers have a ticket with them.

With the use of E-ticket, it can easily accommodate the progressive tariff as a function of voyage distance which is fairer and more economical for the passengers. The passengers who don’t want to have a long queue, multi-trip E-tickets which last for months are also available.

The train management has set electronic means at 63 stations in Jabodetabek (Jakarta, Bogor, Depok and Tangerang). In the first days of its implementation, many passengers are not accustomed yet to the new system causing long queues before the entrance gates. However, we believe that people will be very quick to adopt  such an E-ticket system as it has long been implemented in many countries without a problem.

Congratulation, it is better too late than never!