NTT Public Supports ASDP to Continue Improving

ASDP started improvements by issuing a circular to all ships. No more transactions on board.

KOMPAS/FRANSISKUS PATI HERIN

The process of exchanging tickets for passengers using PT Angkutan Sungai Danau and Ferry vessels at Bolok Port, Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, on Tuesday (23/4/2024). The ticket purchasing process is no longer done manually.

KUPANG, KOMPAS - Criticism of the services provided by PT Angkutan Sungai Danau dan Penyeberangan (ASDP) in East Nusa Tenggara continues to be voiced by the community. They also support ASDP's seriousness in making improvements. On the other hand, ASDP is committed to making serious improvements, including imposing sanctions on internal personnel who continue to violate regulations.

Alex Samon (45), a user of the ASDP ship route from Kupang to Larantuka, said on Friday (26/4/2024) that the service at ASDP has not changed much over time. "The ticket counter and waiting area at the port have always been like that. It's cramped. During holiday seasons or approaching Christmas and New Year, passengers suffer a lot," he said. The ASDP port is located in Bolok, Kupang.

He hopes that ASDP will build a new terminal that is larger and more comfortable like at the Tenau Kupang Port, which is frequented by Pelni passenger ships. The Tenau Port, which also serves container loading and unloading, is managed by PT Pelabuhan Indonesia, a company under the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises.

However, the ASDP Bolok Port is actually the busiest port in NTT. Most passenger, cargo, and vehicle movements in NTT pass through the port. Indeed, ASDP is a favorite among NTT residents. The number of passengers and vehicles carried continues to increase every year.

KOMPAS/FRANSISKUS PATI HERIN

The writing on the expedition truck inside KMP Ranaka, which docks at Bolok Port, Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, on Tuesday (23/4/2024). The truck driver has many ideas to entertain through writing that contains many important messages about life.

Currently, ASDP Kupang serves 57 routes. In 2022, it will make 1,691 trips carrying 134,502 passengers and 48,766 two-wheeled and four-wheeled vehicles or more. In 2023 it will increase significantly. A total of 7,413 trips carried 394,213 passengers and 122,940 vehicles of various types.

J, one of the expedition business owners who often use ASDP's services, also complained about many things. One of them is the disorderliness of vehicle queues entering the ship. His trucks often waited in line for days on end but were not allowed to depart as officers chose to permit other trucks that arrived later.

"The ones who trespass are usually allowed by officials. Sometimes they give money to the officials, like a bribe, ranging from IDR 50,000 to IDR 100,000. This has been happening since a long time ago. Meanwhile, many service users have tried to restrain themselves from giving bribe money," he said.

Also read: Improving ASDP Passenger Services in Kupang

According to J, they will support the efforts of ASDP which is currently undergoing internal improvements, even though it is considered difficult at the moment. One of the solutions is to transfer officers at the Bolok Port to another location. Many of them are long-time players. "Place young people who have not been contaminated," he said.

KOMPAS/FRANSISKUS PATI HERIN

The space for business class passengers on KMP Ranaka docked at Bolok Harbour, Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, on Tuesday (23/4/2024). The room should only be for business class passengers. Some time ago, economy ticket holders were allowed to enter after paying Rp 50,000 to the ship's crew.

Support for ASDP Kupang to improve was also conveyed by the Head of NTT Ombudsman Representative Darius B Daton. Darius was one of the drivers of these improvements after he revealed the practice of "brown envelopes" in the business class of ASDP ships some time ago.

There are times when they give money to officers. A kind of bribe, Rp. 50,000 to Rp. 100,000.

At that time, the ship's crew demanded Rp 50,000 from each economy class passenger who wanted to occupy the business class area. The money, which was placed in a brown envelope, was not included as a source of income for the ASDP. The money was managed by the ship's crew.

Darius sees good ethics from ASDP in making improvements. This was evidenced by the distribution to all ships on April 14, 2024. The content is that ship officials should not sell any tickets on the ship. Ticket sales are only carried out by officials on land. "We'll see how it is implemented in the field," said Darius.

KOMPAS/FRANSISKUS PATI HERIN

The atmosphere at the ticket exchange counter for passengers using PT Angkutan Sungai Danau dan Penyeberangan's ship at Bolok Port, Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, on Tuesday (23/4/2024) was crowded. The exchange area needs to be expanded to prevent congestion during peak holiday season.

Andri Matte, the Business Manager of PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry (Persero) Kupang Branch, stated that they are committed to making improvements. In addition to the circulation that has been issued, non-compliant officers have also been transferred. "The brokers at the port have been expelled," he said.

He urges the community to support the improvement process that they are currently carrying out. The public is asked not to offer any form of reward to officers. In addition, they are also advised not to use brokers for passenger and vehicle ticket management. If there are still violations, the community is asked to report them to authorities.

Also read: Closing the Return of Brown Envelopes on the ASDP Kupang Ship