Introductory Remarks of President Joko Widodo at the Limited Cabinet Meeting on Jabodetabek Transportation Management, 19 March 2019, at the Presidential Office, Jakarta

Unofficial English Translation

Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

Honorable Vice President,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

This morning, we will continue to discuss transportation management in Jabodetabek (the Greater Jakarta).

At the previous Limited Cabinet Meeting, I have instructed the Vice President to coordinate with all Ministers and Governors related on accelerating the management system integration of inter-regional urban transportation network.

This integration process cannot be delayed anymore because, as I often say, the traffic congestion that occurs in Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, Bekasi has caused enormous losses in several decades. The Bappenas (National Development Planning Agency) has reported that the traffic congestion in Jabodetabek has caused approximately Rp65 trillion loss per year and the Vice President and the Governor conveyed a figure of up to Rp100 trillion. This is a very large amount. Thus, the problem must be resolved immediately. We must avoid sectoral ego, ministerial ego, or regional ego. The most important thing is our national interest.

The integration between the urban transportation system and spatial planning, and the continuity of inter-mode connections, including MRT, LRT, Commuter Line and other public transportation are very important. I believe that these steps will greatly reduce the traffic congestion in Jabodetabek and I hope that the completion of MRT, LRT and other transportation modes will provide safe, comfortable and high-quality mass transportation service for the people.

I think that is my introductory remarks for today.

I thank you.(Public Relation Division of Cabinet Secretariat)(RI/AW/YM/Naster)