President Reminds Officials of Importance of Transportation Safety

Jakarta (Antara) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has reminded government officials of the importance of ensuring the safety and ease of transportation during bad weather, especially since Christmas and New Year festivities are approaching. "The weather is not good right now. Transport operators, the ministry of transportation and government officials in the regions should manage their various transport modes effectively to prevent accidents," the President said here on Thursday. In his remarks at Halim Perdanakusuma airport shortly before leaving for Tokyo, Yudhoyono referred to the accident between a commuter train and a fuel oil truck in Bintaro, Tangerang, earlier this week. He expressed hope that such an accident would not happen again, noting that it reminded everyone of the importance of transportation safety. "It is a warning to everyone that we should not be careless about ensuring the safety and security of public transport," President Yudhoyono said. President Yudhoyono left Jakarta on Thursday morning for Tokyo, Japan, to attend a commemoration summit to mark the 40th anniversary of the cooperation between Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). "During the summit that will take place in Tokyo on Saturday, we want to strengthen and expand our cooperation in various fields," President Yudhoyono said. (*)