ODOL POLICY AS A LOCAL POLITICAL ISSUE: EXAMINING THE PALEMBANG CITY GOVERNMENT’S RESPONSE TO PUBLIC PRESSURE

Authors

Keywords:

ODOL Policy, Political Responsiveness, Local Governance, Public Pressure

Abstract

This study examines the political dynamics underlying the implementation of the Over Dimension and Overload (ODOL) policy in Palembang City, Indonesia. Using a qualitative-descriptive approach supported by official transportation data, accident statistics, and media analysis, the research explores how public pressure influences local government responsiveness toward ODOL enforcement. Findings reveal that weak implementation stems not only from institutional limitations but also from political compromises between local authorities and economic actors. The growing number of accidents and fatalities has intensified public scrutiny, transforming ODOL from a technical issue into a politically charged policy arena. The study demonstrates that public pressure serves as a catalyst for symbolic yet visible governmental action, while long-term effectiveness requires digital monitoring innovation, cross-agency collaboration, and participatory accountability. This research contributes to understanding how local political responsiveness shapes policy outcomes in developing democracies, particularly within decentralized governance systems.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Antlov, H. (2003). Village government and rural development in Indonesia: The new democratic framework. Bulletin of Indonesian Economic Studies, 39(2), 193–214,

https://doi.org/10.1080/00074910302013

Bovens, M., & Zouridis, S. (2021). The digital turn in public administration: Policy implementation revisited. Public Administration Review, 81(3), 430–442.

Creswell, J. W. (2017). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. Sage Publications.

Dishub Palembang. (2024). Data Pemantauan ODOL dan Laporan Kecelakaan Jalan Raya Tahun 2023–2024. Palembang: Dinas Perhubungan Kota Palembang.

Dishub Sumsel. (2024). Laporan Operasional ODOL di Sumatera Selatan 2023–2024. Palembang: Dinas Perhubungan Provinsi Sumatera Selatan.

Dunn, W. N. (2003). Public Policy Analysis: An Introduction. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.

Entman, R. M. (2007). Framing bias: Media in the distribution of power. Journal of Communication, 57(1), 163–173.

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1460-2466.2006.00336.x

Fitrani, F., Hofman, B., & Kaiser, K. (2005). Unity in diversity? The creation of new local governments in a decentralized Indonesia. Bulletin of Indonesian Economic Studies, 41(1), 57–79.

Grindle, M. S. (2017). Politics and Policy Implementation in the Third World. Princeton University Press.

Hadiz, V. R. (2010). Localising Power in Post-Authoritarian Indonesia: A Southeast Asia Perspective. Stanford University Press.

Hapsari, R., & Setiawan, B. (2021). Evaluasi kebijakan pembatasan kendaraan ODOL di Indonesia. Jurnal Transportasi dan Kebijakan Publik, 8(2), 115–128.

Howlett, M., & Ramesh, M. (2020). Studying Public Policy: Principles and Processes. Oxford University Press.

Kementerian Perhubungan. (2023). Laporan Penegakan Kebijakan ODOL Nasional. Directorate General of Land Transportation.

Kementerian Perhubungan. (2024). Laporan Operasi Gabungan ODOL Nasional Tahun 2024. Direktorat Jenderal Perhubungan Darat.

Liu, J. (2021). Policy responsiveness in local governance: The role of citizen engagement. Governance, 34(3), 621–638.

McCombs, M., & Shaw, D. (1972). The agenda-setting function of mass media. Public Opinion Quarterly, 36(2),176–187.

https://www.jstor.org/stable/2747787

Ministry of Transportation. (2023). ODOL Policy Enforcement Report. Jakarta: Directorate General of Land Transportation.

Nasution, A., & Lestari, D. (2021). Local government challenges in enforcing ODOL regulation: Evidence from South Sumatra. Jurnal Ilmu Administrasi dan Kebijakan, 15(1), 45–59.

Nugroho, R. (2022). Media framing and policy responsiveness in Indonesia’s transport sector. Jurnal Komunikasi dan Kebijakan Publik, 6(3), 210–228.

Palembang Traffic Police Report. (2024). Data Kecelakaan Kendaraan Berat di Kota Palembang Tahun 2020–2024. Polresta Palembang.

Peters, B. G. (2021). The Politics of Bureaucracy: An Introduction to Comparative Public Administration. Routledge.

Peters, B. G., & Pierre, J. (2016). Comparative Governance: Rediscovering the Functional Dimension of Governing. Cambridge University Press.

Prasetyo, D., Wibowo, A., & Rahman, F. (2022). Impact of overloaded trucks on road infrastructure performance in Indonesia. Journal of Transportation Engineering, 148(4), 1–10.

Pressman, J., & Wildavsky, A. (1984). Implementation: How Great Expectations in Washington Are Dashed in Oakland. University of California Press.

Rasyid, M. (2019). Desentralisasi dan dinamika kebijakan transportasi daerah. Jurnal Politik dan Pemerintahan, 10(2), 87–101.

Setiawan, D., & Yulianto, A. (2020). Interest groups and local policy making in Indonesia. Asian Journal of Political Science, 28(1), 45–62.

Widianingsih, I., & Morrell, E. (2021). Citizen participation and policy responsiveness in Indonesian local governance. Policy Studies, 42(3), 285–303.

Widianingsih, I., & Morrell, E. (2021). Citizen participation and policy responsiveness in Indonesian local governance. Policy Studies, 42(3), 285–303.

World Bank. (2020). Indonesia Transport Sector Assessment. Washington, DC: The World Bank.

Downloads

Published

2025-11-11