Riza Roidila Mufti, Jakarta – A new transportation ministerial regulation has allowed app-based motorcycle taxis to take passengers provided certain health precautions are taken, but the final decision depends on the individual regional governments that have implemented large-scale social restrictions (PSBB), the ministry has said.
Transportation Ministerial Regulation No. 18/2020 on transportation controls to slow the spread of COVID-19 allows app-based motorcycle taxis to take passengers as long as they comply with health protocols. The protocols include wearing masks and gloves, disinfecting vehicles before and after use and not driving when not feeling well.
The new regulation has confused passengers as it clashes with a Health Ministerial Regulation and a Jakarta Gubernatorial Regulation that prohibit motorcycle taxis from carrying passengers and restrict them to carrying only goods during PSBB, civil groups and politicians have said.
Transportation Ministry spokesperson Adita Irawaty said to address the confusion, the ministry had relaxed the regulation to allow individual regional governments to make adjustments.
"It has been agreed that the implementation will be decided by regional governments after conducting a study on several points, including the economic aspects of the [regional] society, the availability of transportation systems in the areas and the availability of social security aid," Adita said in a statement released Monday.
"We will monitor the situation in the field and may evaluate and make changes to the regulation."
Ride-hailing service providers such as Gojek and Grab said they appreciated the transportation ministerial regulation, signed by acting Transportation Minister Luhut Pandjaitan, and are waiting for the regulation to come into effect to make adjustments.