Rieke Diah Pitaloka, a member of the House of Representatives’ Commission XIII, has officially backed the government’s move to launch an investigative audit into Green SM, an electric taxi company. This call to action follows a devastating multi-vehicle train collision at Bekasi Timur Station on Monday (April 27) involving the Argo Bromo train and a KRL Commuter Line, which resulted in at least 16 fatalities.
The tragedy was reportedly triggered by a Green SM taxi that became lodged on a railway crossing, allegedly causing a critical failure in the railway signaling system. In response to the scale of the disaster, Rieke has strongly urged authorities to temporarily suspend the operational permit of the Vietnam-backed taxi firm.
“I have clearly stated my support for the President and the relevant ministries to at least temporarily suspend the operational license of Green SM Taxis,” Rieke stated during her site inspection at Bekasi Timur Station on April 29.
However, Rieke emphasized that a simple permit suspension is insufficient. She argued that the incident necessitates a comprehensive investigation into the company’s legal standing and technical compliance. She specifically questioned the origins of the firm, which operates under a Vietnamese conglomerate and imports its entire fleet directly from abroad.
“We have no confirmation regarding whether these electric vehicles have passed the necessary ‘fine tests’ or safety certifications required for public transportation fleets,” she asserted.
Rieke, who is also known for her role in the sitcom Bajaj Bajuri, highlighted several irregularities she discovered during her investigation into the company’s licensing process. She noted that the permit was issued with suspicious speed through the Online Single Submission (OSS) system; the application was submitted in January 2024, and the license was granted by March 15, 2024. She contrasted this rapid approval with the significant hurdles domestic transport entrepreneurs face to remain operational.
“This decision was made during the 2024 election period, favoring a company that imports its fleet directly. How can such a rapid process occur when we know local taxi companies are struggling to survive? I am not anti-foreign investment, but we should not be rolling out the red carpet for overseas investors while our own local entrepreneurs are struggling to stay afloat,” she added.
Addressing concerns regarding the impact on drivers if the company is suspended, Rieke maintained that the safety of public transport and the lives of citizens must take precedence over employment concerns.
“Are the women who lost their lives not workers themselves? I am here on the ground because six of the victims were from my own constituency in Bekasi Regency, and they were working women,” she concluded.
Response from Green SM
In the wake of the incident, Green SM expressed its deepest condolences to the victims of the collision between the Argo Bromo Anggrek train and the KRL at Bekasi Timur Station. The company stated that an internal and external investigation into the cause of the accident is currently ongoing, with no official conclusions reached at this time.
“Green SM continues to coordinate with relevant authorities by providing all relevant information and supporting the investigative process,” the company stated.
Summary
Rieke Diah Pitaloka, a member of the House of Representatives, has urged the government to temporarily suspend the operational license of Green SM, an electric taxi company. This request follows a fatal train collision in Bekasi Timur, which was allegedly caused by one of the company’s vehicles becoming trapped on a railway crossing. The incident has raised serious concerns regarding public transport safety and the company’s technical compliance with national safety certifications.
Beyond the suspension, Rieke is calling for a comprehensive investigation into the company’s licensing process, which she claims was granted with suspicious speed via the Online Single Submission system. She questioned the preferential treatment of this foreign-backed firm while local entrepreneurs face significant regulatory hurdles. In response, Green SM has expressed its condolences and confirmed that they are cooperating fully with authorities to investigate the cause of the tragedy.