The presence of Uber has indeed brought countless of debates among people. Just recently, the private car rental server posted on its official blog, trying to clarify about its controversial services by stating that they are safe, convenient, and legal to operate in Jakarta. This was to counter what the government said earlier that Uber was illegal and that the government, through the Ministry of Communication and Information, had planned to block its services.
It clearly seems that Uber takes its business expansion in Indonesia very seriously. While keep holding constructive talks with the DKI Jakarta local government, the startup also never stops assuring the people that their services are not violating any regulation at all. Uber also guarantees its passengers’ safety and convenience, something which has always been people’s main concern due to the highly increasing level of crime in the Indonesia’s capital.
In the process, this San Fransisco-based startup seems tireless in responding all controversies surrounding its presence, particularly about its legality, fare transparency, and safety. Just go and check its official blog, which was released on September 2, 2014, to get your own words.
Furthermore, Uber emphasizes that it functions to pair passengers with legal and insurance-protected private car rentals over and over again. It also highlights that the startup doesn’t possess any vehicles to support its services at all, and only hire drivers to get paired with passengers.
As for its fare, Uber keeps explaining that it employs a highly transparent payment system, as you may see below. The startup also responded to the big question on the absence of its fixed taximeter and dependence towards smartphone-based app by stating that according to the leading world’s transportation authorities, smartphone is not a taximeter at all.
The startup also guarantees that its services are highly safe and convenient. This is particularly because Uber implemented a feature which can share about passengers’ trip details to their close relatives. Thus, should any unwanted things happen, their families and friends can determine definitely what to do and where to go.
All those attempts are undoubtedly intended to win over the government’s heart to, wishfully, announce their legality publicly. It’s not such easy task, as Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok), the Vice Governor of DKI Jakarta, had earlier expressed his disappointment and personal disapproval toward Uber.
“They [Uber] need to clarify its business status as soon as possible. The regulation here in Indonesia is crystal clear, all profit-seeking companies must pay the taxes. Those who don’t possess licenses and tax numbers are violating the regulation,” Ahok told The Jakarta Globe (19/8).
Ahok added that he would not take it lightly should Uber doesn’t intend to administer its licenses anytime soon. “It’s so simple, we need to stop their operation by acting as their paying passenger. Once they show up to pick us up, that’s when we capture them”.
That statement by Ahok indicates that instead of administering licences to be a recognized official taxi operator in Indonesia, Uber only needs to clarify its business model based on the valid regulation and pays its business-related taxes.
This licences administration sould not be second priority, even though Uber has started its own campaign by promoting the #UBER4JAKARTA hashtag at Twitter, as “tweet wars” and “constructive mentions” will never be as effective as sitting down and holding direct talks.
[Header illustration: Shutterstock | Scheme: Uber]
