Blue Bird’s fate in Batam still in limbo

Fadli, The Jakarta Post, Batam | Archipelago | Tue, October 16 2012, 8:59 PM

The Batam administration said on Tuesday that it had yet to take any step related to the Batam Administrative Court’s ruling on the administration’s revocation of taxi operator Blue Bird’s permit to operate in the area.

Last week, the court annulled the city administration’s decision to revoke Blue Bird’s operational permit. The administration, through its transportation agency, annulled Blue Bird’s license in Batam on July 31 following a massive strike by local taxi drivers against the firm’s entry into the local market.

“We haven’t received the court’s ruling. So, we cannot make any comment about the ruling now,” Batam Mayor Ahmad Dahlan said.

The ruling said that the license’s revocation was unlawful and Blue Bird should be allowed to operate in the area. “The license was issued by the mayor but the revocation letter was signed by the head of the transportation agency. This is unlawful,” said Batam court chief Kamer Togatorop.

Blue Bird filed an appeal against the revocation on Sept. 24.

Batam Transportation Agency head Zulhendri said that his office was ready to abide by the court’s ruling.

“If the local taxi drivers still object to the presence of the firm in Batam, I suggest that they file a new report to challenge the ruling,” he said.

Batam taxi drivers have said that Blue Bird, the country’s biggest taxi operator, would ruin their business. (han/lfr)