Medan – Hundreds of drivers of motor-powered tricycles, locally known as becak motor, staged a rally at the municipal office against what they claimed was discriminatory treatment by the Transportation Agency.

They said they had been barred from operating in certain areas, while other groups of drivers were seen "operating freely".

Syahrul Harahap, one of the protesters, said the agency's partisanship in favor of other drivers had raised their suspicions that agency officials were accepting kickbacks. "We have been complaining for a long time but only now have we made the issue public. We fear the confiscation of our pedicabs," Syahrul said.

Toga Aruan, an official at the Transportation Agency, said his office would consider the protesters' demand for being allowed to operate in certain areas. Legal regulations ban pedicabs from operating on Jl. Sudirman, Jl. Imam Bonjol, Jl. Diponegoro and Jl. WR Suprapto.

He denied accusations that officials had taken kickbacks for "allowing some pedicab drivers to operate in prohibited areas".