The Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) said Friday the government had made the wrong decision in increasing toll rates because the hikes badly affected people earning a lower-than-average wage.
"It is true that the turnpike tariff in Indonesia is among the lowest in Asia (countries)," YLKI's Sudaryatmo said during an Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) meeting.
"But the government should've considered how much money people spend on transportation every day.
"To pay for their transport, people often sacrifice their need for food or education."
People earning a lower-than-average income can spend up to 30 percent of their daily income just for transportation, which is much higher than the suggested 8 to 12 percent, he said.
A YLKI survey in 2002 showed Jakartans generally spent between 15 and 18 percent.
Turnpike operator PT Jasa Marga earlier this week increased the inner-city tollways tariff by approximately 20 percent.
Under the new scheme, class I vehicles, including cars, buses and small-sized trucks, now have to pay Rp 5,500 (some 59 US cents), an increase of Rp 1,000.
Jasa Marga has also imposed a new tariff on the Jakarta Outer Ring Road (JORR). The new tariff now requires class I vehicles to pay a flat rate of Rp 6,000, regardless of the distance they want to travel and despite ongoing complaints from motorists.
The Director General of Road Developments at the Public Works Ministry Hermanto Dardak said those in protest should simply not take the expressways.
Heavy traffic in the city, however, leaves no other option for motorists. Even public bus drivers have started to take expressways.
Sudaryatmo said the toll hikes have placed an extra burden on all Jakartans.
He said the government should have investigated properly the public's ability to pay the turnpike tariff before it decided to increase the toll.
Deputy coordinator of ICW Danang Widoyoko said according to ICW's calculation, the new tariff for class I vehicles on inner-city tollways was supposed to be Rp 5,100 and not Rp 5,500.
"We couldn't calculate the exact number because PT Jasa Marga didn't inform the public of its financial situation," Danang said.
"If only the operator did, perhaps the people who use turnpikes would understand the reason for the toll rates."
Danang said Jasa Marga's revenue from toll ways since 2004 had increased.
In 2004, the company made about Rp 230 billion in profit, while in 2005 and 2006 ICW estimated it had made about Rp 293 billion and Rp 460 billion in profits, respectively.
Deputy Director of the Science, Aesthetics and Technology (SET) Foundation Agus Sudibyo said the public had a right to know why the turnpike tariff had been increased, especially when there was no sign of the roads improving.
"The government should have been careful in its policy making and foreseen the impact it would have on some members of the public," Agus said. (08)
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