THE three candidate pairings for Jakarta governor and deputy governor believe that public transport accessibility in the region is already fairly good. Despite this, there are still areas that need improvement. The participants in the Jakarta gubernatorial election have outlined plans for several programs aimed at enhancing the inclusivity of public transportation in the city.

The Ridwan Kamil-Suswono pairing has promised to improve human resources through special public assistants known as pramusapa. These public transport staff help people with disabilities access transportation, such as assisting blind individuals or pushing the wheelchairs of those with physical disabilities when they want to use elevators. “Providing pramusapa is the solution,” Ridwan stated in Jakarta on Tuesday, September 24.

Ridwan believes that these assistants not only aid individuals with disabilities but also other priority groups, such as pregnant women and elderly citizens. The former West Jakarta governor has even promised to establish a clear career path for these pramusapa. “There must be a career path. So we need to find a way of managing the human resources.”

Ridwan maintains that assistance across all public transportation is crucial for helping people with disabilities. He has committed to increasing the salaries of these staff to motivate them to provide better service.

The promises made by candidate number 2 on the ballot, Dharma Pongrekun-Kun Wardana Abyoto, are different. Fadilah Supari, head of the Dharma-Kun campaign team, stated that her team would enhance public transportation and facilities for people with disabilities in public areas. One example is the improvement of accessibility on Transjakarta buses.

Another program the Dharma-Kun team plans involves relocating transportation hubs as close as possible to office buildings. “So when people with disabilities disembark from public transport, it won’t be too difficult,” Siti said.

Jakarta Governor and Deputy Governor candidates Dharma Pongrekun and Kun Wardhana at Lapangan Banteng, Jakarta, September 25, 2024. TEMPO/Ilham Balindra

Additionally, the team will provide more public transport options and equipment to assist people with disabilities in accessing public transportation.

Meanwhile, candidate pairing number 3 on the ballot paper, Pramono Anung-Rano Karno, presents several solutions. These include enhancing all public facilities in Jakarta to ensure accessibility for everyone, including people with disabilities.

Pramono asserted that these improvements would facilitate access to public transport in the city center and extend to the furthest reaches of Jakarta. The goal is to positively impact the people with disabilities community, allowing them to engage more comfortably in activities throughout the city.

Pramono emphasized the access cards used by people with disabilities for public transport. He noted that many individuals with disabilities still encounter problems when using these cards. “When I travel by MRT or LRT, I observe people with disabilities struggling to tap their cards. Sometimes, they even try four or five times before succeeding. This is a problem in itself. We need to find solutions to make this process easier.”

Fajri Nursyamsi, Deputy Executive Director of the Indonesian Center for the Study of Law and Policy, encourages every member of the people with disabilities community to advocate for the Jakarta governor and deputy governor candidates to consider robust transport programs for people with disabilities. Transport programs viewed as disability-friendly must not decline in quality or disappear altogether.

Jakarta gubernatorial candidate Pramono Anung addresses residents of Sunter Agung, Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta, September 26, 2024. TEMPO/Martin Yogi Pardamean

“For example, the individual elected as governor of Jakarta must not take retrogressive steps, such as ending the helpful Transjakarta Care program,” Fajri asserted.

Jakarta voters need to be informed about which governor and deputy governor candidates are committed to prioritizing issues related to people with disabilities and their programs. “This depends on funding priorities. If they are committed to disability issues, they will prioritize the allocation of funds to programs that support people with disabilities.”