It is not just polluting car owners who are worried about the Feb. 4 implementation of Bylaw No. 2/2005 on air pollution control.

Drivers who do not have their vehicles' emissions tested under the bylaw risk being pulled off the road. Moreover, if they fail the test, their ownership documents will not be renewed.

Sukijo Ciptosumarno, a resident of Kampung Pluis, South Jakarta, said he knew nothing about the bylaw.

"There's been no announcement from the city administration, I don't understand what the emissions test is for," the father of three told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

Sukijo, 53, is due to renew his car ownership documents in August.

Before then, he needs to take his car to one of the city's 80 inspection stations.

If his vehicle fails the test, Sukijo, who makes a living selling chicken at a traditional market, will be fined and told to fix his car.

The Rp 50,000 test seems expensive to him.

"Why should I pay for that? I am already struggling. My business has been going down since the reports on bird flu and the formaldehyde debate surfaced," he said.

Basuki, 30, the marketing manager of a company in South Jakarta, was more concerned about finding the time to have his 1997 Baleno tested.

"I've heard about it, but I don't have time to line up for the emissions test," he said.

The limited number of auto workshops certified to test vehicles' emissions could be a problem for the program.

"To save time, I hope inspectors can cooperate with the management bodies of office buildings to test vehicles in their parking lots," the resident of Klender, North Jakarta, told the Post.

Sadeo Ishadiputra does not live in Jakarta but still needs to have his 1988 Toyota tested.

"I may live in Tangerang but my vehicle is registered in Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta," he said.

He said the emissions test was not winning any fans among his friends.

"The emissions test issue might be pushed aside by the planned publication of Playboy magazine," he laughed.

Sadeo expressed concern over the absence of an independent auditing team to monitor the inspection stations.

Governor Sutiyoso said the bylaw would take effect Feb. 4 as scheduled.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/yesterdaydetail.asp?fileid=20060124.G02