Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla is scheduled to take part in the Takabonerate Island Expedition in Selayar Islands, South Sulawesi, on Nov. 27-29. (Reuters Photo/Beawiharta)

Jakarta. Commenting on violent protests against app-based transportation services in Jakarta on Tuesday (22/03), Vice President Jusuf Kalla stressed that inevitable technological development requires regulative adjustments, not outright rejection.

“Technological progress cannot be challenged, we should arrange how it is applied. If we challenge technology, we will be left behind," Kalla told a meeting of officials at the Public Works and Housing Ministry in Jakarta.

"The technology provides efficiency, and we should not forget that this is not only about transportation. […] With the [app-based] system, Jakarta traffic becomes better, not many people are roaming around [thanks to efficient delivery services],” Kalla explained.

Earlier on Tuesday, the vice-presidential convoy was held up at Jalan Gatot Subroto because of the rally, which was organized by disgruntled taxi drivers upset over dropping incomes in the face of competition from their app-based counterparts.

Kalla said it was the first time this happened to him as a vice president, causing him to be late for a meeting. The same happened to President Joko Widodo, Kalla said.