Dialogue between President of the Republic of Indonesia and Container Truck Drivers, 10 June 2021, at Tanjung Priok Port, Jakarta

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

This morning, I am glad to meet all of you. I have read complaints on social media from drivers regarding the unloading process. Please tell me your concerns so we can find a solution. Do not be afraid of the Minister or high ranking officials here. You should talk about the problem as it is. I will find the solutions immediately. I would like to listen to your concerns.

We have heard about the shorter dwelling time, and the speed of loading and unloading. We must ensure that the queuing system is clear and there are no illegal levies so that the drivers can be more comfortable in doing their jobs. If there are problems related to illegal levies, I will do my best to solve the problems.

Agung (Container Truck Driver)

Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

Good afternoon, Mr. President and all officials.

My name is Agung. I am a container driver and I have been unemployed for one year because of the pandemic. After the first lockdown, the transportation services were halted, including buses, trains and planes. At that time I went back to my hometown, and because there was no passenger transport service available, I could not return to Jakarta. I was in the village for two months. When I returned to Jakarta, the truck I usually drive has been taken over by another driver, and until now I am unemployed.

I am currently looking for a job. I will tell you about the problems at the port. When we talk about problems for drivers, we have to talk about the situation before the new port existed, about four years ago, before the New Priok Container Terminal One (NPCT1) existed. President Jokowi has talked about the viral information on NPCT1.

The construction of the Priok toll road, the elevated toll road from Priok to Cakung for access to Cikampek, coincided with the construction of a new terminal, namely NPCT1.

At that time, there was a high level of traffic congestion, because the toll road access at the time of construction was narrowed and almost every day the toll road construction process and the NPCT1 operational development process escalated the congestion, perhaps because the company and its workers were new.

When there is traffic congestion as a result of the loading and unloading process at the port, we experience thuggery. My fellow drivers have been experiencing the thuggery almost every day until today. During traffic congestion, the drivers’ goods are stolen. In Tanjung Priok we call it “Asmoro”. In traffic congestion, the perpetrator takes the goods from the vehicle secretly. Organized thugs, in every vulnerable area, got into the car, sir.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

The container can’t be opened, right? How did the perpetrator steal the goods?

Agung (Container Truck Driver)

They got goods available in vehicles, sir, including spare tire and automotive battery, or cellular phone. If the perpetrator got into the car, he would extort us, sir and will take our belongings, including cellular phones, wallets, and money. It often happens to intercity truck drivers. Export and import container truck drivers now have an organization to strengthen our networking. Before the organization established, the drivers have established a group. In the past, fellow container drivers competed with each other, and there was no sense of togetherness. In the traffic congestion, when thugs got into cars carrying a sickle or doing the extortion, no one dares to help, sir. It was very concerning, because they were afraid that if they helped, the thugs would attack them.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Is there still thuggery now?

Agung (Container Truck Driver)

Yes, sir. But it’s not like in the past. The number has dropped.

Today, my fellow drivers already know each other. For example, Bang Hakim, he comes from a different area from me. In the past, my fellow drivers are grouped based on their area in one company and they will not know the drivers working for other companies. Bang Hakim is from Medan, so the driver assistant is also from Medan. To that end, we establish an organization to help each other and be united against thuggery.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

I would like to ask a question related to illegal levies in Fortune, NPCT1, and Dwipa Depots. Do you have to pay illegal levies?

Agung (Container Truck Driver)

Yes, sir.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

What kind of illegal levies?

Hakim (Container Truck Driver)

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.

Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

My name is Abdul Hakim, you can call me Hakim. It’s true sir, there are illegal levies, that’s very true, sir. They asked for illegal levies. If we don’t give them money, our business will be slowed down. Illegal levies exist in Fortune, Dwipa, NBP, and almost all Depots. Now, the only depots that have almost no illegal levies are the Seacon Depot and the Puninar Depot. Other depots usually have illegal levies.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Who committed the illegal levies in these places?

Hakim (Container Truck Driver)

Depot employees, sir. For example, when we drive a container truck without cargo, when we make a report, we have to pay illegal levies, Rp 5,000, Rp 15,000 or Rp 20,000. Otherwise, our reporting is being slowed down.

I will explain about the problem of thuggery. When there is traffic congestion, thuggery happens. If there is no traffic congestion, maybe there would be no thuggery, sir. So the root of the problem is congestion, sir. For example, maybe you have heard viral information about traffic congestion in NPCT1. The thuggery there is very bad.

Hence, we ask the President to provide the best solution for us. We feel disappointed, sir. Drivers do not feel safe, especially drivers in Tanjung Priok. This problem occurs in Priok, in Jakarta, and in other cities. There are also many illegal levies and thuggery in other cities. Maybe you already know the information from social media.

That concludes my statement. Now, we have my fellow driver who will deliver a statement.

Nuratmo (Container Truck Driver)

Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

Good afternoon Mr. President. My name is Nuratmo, now I am working in a small company in the container business. The Company only has 1-2 trucks. Today I am glad because at 10 p.m. last night my friend phoned me, telling me that we would meet the President.

This is my second meeting with Mr. President. The first meeting was in 2019 when I was invited to the Palace. At that time I was a Pertamina truck driver, sir. Maybe Mr. President still remembers me.

My friend asked me, “Has your case at Pertamina been resolved?” I said “Not yet” My friend told me that today I can tell the President that my problem has not been resolved. Hence, I would like to inform you that my previous problem at Pertamina has not been resolved, sir. I haven’t received any severance pay or any money. I deeply hope that the problem can be followed up immediately. I have been a container driver since 1997. I joined Pertamina in 2010. I would pursue my career at Pertamina but apparently I couldn’t. When I was laid off I didn’t obtain any severance pay.

Regarding traffic congestion, it is true that traffic congestion occurs at the Fortune Depot. The drivers called Depo Fortune “cursed Depot”, because the impact of the traffic congestion at Depo Fortune is very significant. The effect of the congestion can reach Cakung area.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Hold on.

(The President talked to the Police Chief by telephone)

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Good morning Mr. Police Chief.

Chief of the Indonesian National Police (General Police Listyo Sigit Prabowo)

Yes sir, good morning, Mr. President.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

I am in Tanjung Priok, listening to complaints from container truck drivers related to illegal levies at Fortune,  NPCT1, and Dwipa Depots. That is the first one. Second, during traffic congestion many drivers are extorted by thugs. The problems must be solved, Mr. Police Chief.

Chief of the Indonesian National Police (General Police Listyo Sigit Prabowo)

Yes, sir. I would like to inform you that I am in West Java province now.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

All right. That’s all, thank you.

Chief of the Indonesian National Police (General Police Listyo Sigit Prabowo)

Yes, sir.

Nuratmo (Container Truck Driver)

I will continue my report, sir.

The impact of traffic congestion in one place has an impact on another. Congestion at the Fortune Depot could have an impact on Cakung area or Cilincing area. The loading and unloading process can take up to a new day to complete. Another impact of congestion is thuggery. We have frequently asked the Depot for clarification because it had a tremendous impact, but so far there has been no concrete change.

Regarding services at the port, the situation is not clear. Yesterday there was police personnel monitoring the situation in NPCT1. In the morning the situation must be under control, because in the morning we are at the factory. At this hour we are at the factory for loading or unloading. The congestion usually starts after maghrib (dusk) or isha (evening) until late at night. The congestion happens on certain days, not every day. Usually traffic congestion happens on Tuesday night, Wednesday Night, Thursday night, Friday, and Saturday. The congestion has a multiplier effect.

So, I hope the traffic congestion problem that has an impact on thuggery can be addressed as soon as possible. That concludes my report, I thank you.

Wassalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

I have understood all concerns raised by all of you. I have ordered the Police Chief to solve the problems on the ground. The Police Chief will report to me. I think the Jakarta Regional Police Chief has also heard my order, but I have ordered the National Police Chief to make everything clear and be resolved on the ground. I will monitor the progress.

If such complaints are not resolved, the drivers’ low income will further decrease due to extortion and illegal levies. I have read about the problems on social media. The complaints must be solved and be monitored.

That concludes my statement on this auspicious occasion. Once again, I would like to express my gratitude to all of you for this meeting. I will monitor the progress. I will ask the drivers who have talked about their concerns to know whether the problems have been solved or not. In the event that the problems have not been solved, I will re-invite all of you

I thank you.

Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh. (RI/MUR)