Smoother Ride

MILATIA MOEMIN TAKES ON THE CHALLENGES OF TRANSFORMING STATEOWNED DAMRI INTO AN INTERNATIONAL STANDARD PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION COMPANY.

- Marella Putri

BUSES REMAIN the favorite mode of public transportation in Indonesia. According to Statistics Indonesia (BPS), more than 16% out of 303.4 million domestic trips in 2018 were made using buses, second only to private transportation (67%). This figure also gradually increased thanks to relatively improving economic conditions and easier accessibility to tourist destinations in Indonesia, as the government has begun to develop infrastructure and better public transportation services.

Among the many bus companies in Indonesia, one of the better known is state-owned public transit bus company Perusahaan Umum Djawatan Angkoetan Motor Repoeblik Indonesia (Perum DAMRI). Among the oldest in the country, the roots of DAMRI date back to the Japanese colonial era and its status was changed to a Perum in 1984. However, it is only in the last couple years that the 74-year old company has undergone a real transformation—having its culture, systems and services rejuvenated—but the process has not been easy.

“The [new digital] system is doing well, but [changing] culture is hard. It isn’t something that you can change overnight,” says president director of DAMRI, Setia N. Milatia Moemin, who received her appointment at the end of 2017, and began leading the company in 2018. Tia, as she is usually called, has a long career in the transportation field. Her previous experience includes special expert staff to the chairman of Badan Pengelola Transportasi Jabodetabek, country director at the Institute of Transportation Development and Policy, and team advisor for the director-general of land transportation.