Ride-Hailing Driver Protest Falls Short of Crowd Claims, Services Remain Unaffected

UNJUK RASA - Jakarta — A planned mass demonstration by online motorcycle taxi (ojol) drivers on Tuesday (20/5) failed to draw the anticipated turnout, with only several hundred drivers gathering at the Patung Kuda area near the National Monument (Monas) in Central Jakarta.

The protest, organized by the driver group Garda Indonesia, had previously claimed it would attract up to 500,000 participants. However, the actual turnout fell significantly short of that estimate.

Several prominent driver communities chose not to take part in the demonstration, including the National Ojol Coalition (KON), Jabodetabek Driver Family (KBDJ), North Jakarta OjolCommunity, Gojek Merah Putih Family Online Ojek Drivers Association, Indonesian Online Driver Community Forum (FKDOI), and the Indonesian Special Rental Transportation Organization (Oraski).

Despite the protest, ride-hailing services in the capital and surrounding areas continued to operate normally throughout the day, with no significant disruptions reported.

According to Kontan’s on-site monitoring, the protest staged by ojol drivers at the Patung Kuda, on Tuesday afternoon (20/5) drew only a few hundred participants, far below the widely circulated estimates.

At around 3:00 PM, demonstrators were seen gathering at the Patung Kuda area to voice their demands to the government and ride-hailing companies. However, they did not proceed to the next planned destination, the House of Representatives (DPR/MPR) Complex.

The protest remained orderly and caused no significant traffic disruptions in the city center. Meanwhile, the majority of ojoldrivers continued operating as usual.

"I ordered an ojol and got one right away. It was just like every other day,” said a worker met on Jalan Sudirman, Central Jakarta.

Ride-hailing services across Jakarta and its surrounding areas reportedly remained operational without major interruption throughout the day.

Call for Dialogue Instead

While a protest took place at Patung Kuda, several driver communities chose not to participate, preferring to continue operating and maintaining public order in their respective areas.

Mansyur, Head of the North Jakarta Ojol Community, said that his members decided to stay "on bid" rather than join the demonstration. He emphasized that participating in such actions is a personal choice, and his organization does not hold responsibility for any North Jakarta drivers who chose to protest.

"Our decision not to take part is a reflection of our responsibility in maintaining security and order in our area of work," Mansyur said, as quoted by Kompas. He added that maintaining good relations with police and security forces was also a priority for the community.

Mansyur acknowledged that the decision received mixed reactions among ojol drivers in North Jakarta, but noted that many appreciated the firm stance as a sign of maturity in organizing.

"I urge all ojol drivers in North Jakarta to continue their activities as usual," he said.

Similar sentiments were echoed by Sunaryanti, Coordinator of the Gojek Merah Putih Family Online Ojek Drivers Association (KGMP) for West and North Jakarta. She stated that protests are not the only means to convey aspirations and that constructive dialogue is a better alternative to prevent misunderstandings.

"The best way is through communication with the relevant parties. Demonstrating isn’t always the answer," Sunaryantisaid. She also noted that personal responsibilities influenced her decision to continue working. "I chose to keep working because my child’s needs are more important than joining a demonstration," she added.

Meanwhile, Rahman Thohir, Chairman of the Indonesian Online Driver Community Forum (FKDOI), shared a similar view, stating that mediation and discussion with stakeholders would be a more effective and productive way to resolve issues faced by ojol drivers.