The Minister of Transportation was Shocked and Touched

His voice goes high and low, he knew exactly how to manage his speech in front hundreds of people. That is E.E. Mangindaan, the Minister of Transportation. He was the spokesman on International Remembrance Day for the Victims of Road Accidents held in Jakarta last Friday (18/11).

“I was shocked and touched to see that road accidents video” said the politician from the Democrat Party in such a sad tone.
And he said a prayer “Dear God, please give us strength to prevent more traffic accidents. There are enough accidents happened lately. I hope we won’t be involved in an accident and I hope that we shared a mutual understanding of road safety”.

Those prayers and sadness are insufficient. Real action is required. The government as the most responsible party of road safety should act immediately using its power which funded from people’s money through tax. There must be a sufficient amount taken from National Budget (APBN) to overcome the road safety problems in Indonesia. “Government and mass media has given small amount of attention for road accidents compared to airplane accidents” said the narrator of the video which aired before the Minister speech.

On 2010 there are 86 victims of road accidents died in vain while total dead victims reached 31.234 person last year.
The Minister suddenly speaks “Now is not the time to seek for someone’s mistake, now it’s time to act. The five pillars must be implemented. I want to be serious on road safety matters”.

The Minister also said that road accident should have been prevented. He sarcastically mentioned the vehicle owners “Does your vehicle met the safety standards? Lots of intrigue happened between vehicle investigator and vehicle owners. Such false activity should be taken into account for punishment”.

Rio Octaviano, head of Road Safety Association (RSA) a non-profit organization advocating road safety speaks in front of the Minister after his speech. “Please open a forum with the people Sir..! Lots of things you need to know” said Rio who squeezed by adjutants and officers of The Ministry of Transportation.
While Rio tried to emphasize the importance of a dialogue from grass root, the Minister only said “Let’s arrange the time, I have another importance”.

From the tweets threw by Edo Rusyanto during the event, @oyodika asked the Minister to prove and implement the five pillars of road safety. “Please prove your words Sir”, said @oyodika.

These ceremonial events was closed by discharged of 86 white balloons by the Minister, Vice Minister and several Officers, includes those from National Police. In front of the Ministerial officers the Road Safety dance was demonstrated by the teenagers.

“Check your left and right side before crossing the road” said those teenagers who dressed in white.
So, let’s implement the road safety program and start with a real action. Stay focus and overcome the obstacles. Agree?

sumber : www.rsa.or.id

Saat Menhub Mengaku Trenyuh

SUARANYA kadang melemah, kadang meninggi. Tampaknya dia tahu persis mengatur intonasi, menyihir ratusan orang yang ada dihadapannya. Itulah sosok Menteri Perhubungan (Menhub) EE Mangidaan. Siang itu, sang menteri menjadi pembicara utama dalam perhelatan Hari Peringatan Sedunia untuk Korban Kecelakaan Lalu Lintas di Jakarta, Jumat (18/11/2011).
“Saya trenyuh melihat video kecelakaan yang ditayangkan tadi,” kata politisi dari Partai Demokrat itu dengan nada rendah.
Dia pun berdoa. “Ya Tuhan, beri kekuatan pada kami untuk mencegah kecelakaan lalu lintas jalan. Cukup sudah kecelakaan yang terjadi saat ini. Semoga kita tidak menjadi bagian dari kecelakaan. Semoga kita punya perasaan yang sama.”
Cukupkah keprihatinan dan doa tersebut? Tentu tidak. Butuh aksi nyata. Pemerintah sebagai penanggung jawab keselamatan warganya, mesti tampil di depan. Kekuatan pemerintah yang didanai dari uang rakyat melalui anggaran pendapatan belanja Negara (APBN), mestinya berada di garis depan.
“Perhatian pemerintah dan media massa tergolong sepi terhadap kecelakaan lalu lintas dibandingkan kecelakaan udara,” papar sang narator dari video kecelakaan yang ditayangkan sebelum Menhub memberikan wejangan.
Kita tahu, pada 2010, setiap hari ada 86 korban kecelakaan lalu lintas jalan yang tewas sia-sia. Total korban tewas mencapai 31.234 jiwa pada tahun lalu.
Sontak, Menhub yang juga seorang jenderal purnawirawan itu berseloroh, “Sudah bukan waktunya mencari siapa yang salah. Tapi mari bertindak. Lima pilar harus diimplementasikan. Saya ingin serius soal keselamatan di bidang transportasi.”
Mantan Gubernur Sulawesi Utara itu pun berujar, pengalaman mengajarkan bahwa banyak dari kejadian kecelakaan seharusnya dapat dihindari atau bahkan dicegah. Dia menyentil banyak kalangan. Termasuk,
para pemilik kendaraan harus memperhatikan kendaraannya, apakah sudah memenuhi standar keselamatan. “Kadang pemeriksa dan pemilik kendaraan kongkalingkong, itu harus ditindak,” tegasnya.
Hal itu membuat Rio Octaviano, ketua umum Road Safety Association (RSA), lembaga nirlaba yang peduli keselamatan jalan menyambangi sang menteri ketika usai member wejangan. “Buka forum dengan rakyat Pak. banyak yang Bapak harus ketahui!” Sergah Rio yang dihimpit para ajudan dan pejabat teras kementerian perhubungan. Saat saya coba pertegas ulang tentang pentingnya dialog mendengar dari akar rumput, Menhub cuma berujar singkat, “Kita atur waktu lagi yah, saya ada keperluan.”
Dari twitter yang saya lontarkan saat acara berjalan, akun @oyodika meminta agar pak Menhub membuktikan atau mengimplementasikan soal lima pilar keselamatan jalan. “Suruh buktikan om,” tukas @oyodika.
Acara seremonial pun ditutup dengan pelepasan 86 balon putih oleh Menhub, wakil menhub, dan pejabat terkait, termasuk dari Kepolisian RI. Di hadapan pejabat, para remaja dari pengajian di Jakarta memperagakan tarian keselamatan jalan. “Kalau menyeberang tengak-tengok kiri dan kanan,” ujar belasan remaja yang berseragam putih-putih itu. Yuk Pak Menhub, kita wujudkan keselamatan jalan. Tancap gas dengan program nyata, gak perlu tengak-tengok kalau ada ‘sandungan.’ Setuju?

Penulis : edo rusyanto
Sumber : www.rsa.or.id