"I urge the Minister of Transportation to improve the existing transportation safety procedures and to apply them soon," Boediono said during a visit to the Krakatau Medika Hospital here Saturday.
He said it seemed the existing transportation safety instruments needed to be upgraded or repaired and transportation safety procedures revised.
The transportation minister, he said, must take immediate and concrete measures to prevent further losses of life due to transportation accidents.
The Vice President also asked the ministry to continue searching for the still missing victims of Friday`s ferry fire in the Sunda Strait.
Transportation safety issues had been discussed several times at the Vice President`s office, he said, adding that they needed immediate responses to prevent the occurrence of more accidents.
"We emphasize the importance of enforcing transportation safety procedures and all parties including passengers should obey the safety procedures," he said.
During his visit to victims of the ferry fire being treated at the hospital, Boediono said some hospitals and health centers had taken care of the victims appropriately, conform to the procedures and there were a sufficient number medical officers to treat the ferry fire victims who sustained lung, respiratory injuries and bone fractures.
Jasa Raharja and Jamsostek (insurance agencies) were asked to give immediate service to the victims to ease the health cost.
Meanwhile, Transportation Minister Freddy Numberi said some transportation safety procedures needed to be improved include the passenger flow and registration of public transportation.
"All safety procedures for passenger have been accomplished and will be improved," Freddy said, adding that the number of lifeboats and lifebuoys should be increased.
The authorities were still conducting an investigation into the ferry fire to establish what had caused it, he said.(*)
Editor: Ruslan Burhani
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
