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PT Sumber Alam Ekspres

Sumber Alam Bus with Triun DX bodywork produced by Trijaya Union
Founded	1975; 51 years ago (1975)
Headquarters	Kutoarjo, Purworejo Regency, Central Java, Indonesia
Service area	Java
Service type	Intercity bus tourist bus shuttle bus
Destinations	DKI Jakarta Semarang (Central Java) Yogyakarta
Hubs	138 agents
Depots	Kutoarjo, Purworejo, Central Java, Indonesia
Fuel type	Diesel electric
Chief executive	Anthony Steven Hambali
Website	www.sumberalam.co.id

PT Sumber Alam Ekspres is a Indonesian bus company based in Purworejo Regency, Central Java. This bus company serves intercity bus, tour bus, and shuttle bus, and serves cities across southern and central Java with starting points in Yogyakarta and Purworejo District, Purworejo Regency, Central Java. This bus company has its main garage and headquarters in Kutoarjo District.

In the 1960s, a Chinese-Indonesian woman living in Purworejo Regency, Central Java, named Thung Tjie Hing, founded PO Tresno. In 1969, as he grew older, Thung did not want to continue this bus business and wanted to hand it over to his children and three grandchildren.^[1] Each of Thung's children and grandchildren received a bus unit: his son also formed a bus company with the name Santoso, while Thung's three grandchildren founded two new bus companies called PO Hidup Baru and Kencana Jaya.^[2]

When Hidup Baru and Kencana Jaya were being founded, Thung called Himawan Hambali, his grandson, to ask if he was ready to take over the five buses from Tresno. Eventually, the bus was shared with two of its brothers, including Judi Setijawan Hambali.^[1] At its operational debut, Hidup Baru and Kencana Jaya only served intercity bus routes within the province (AKDP). Despite starting with very limited facilities and fleet,^[2] the business grew due to the perseverance and dedication of its founders in meeting the transportation needs of the people in the southern region of Central Java, particularly the Purworejo–Yogyakarta route and its surroundings.

In 1975, Judi Setijawan Hambali and his two brothers founded Sumber Alam, which focused on Intercity and interprovincial buses (AKAP).^[3] At the beginning of its establishment, this bus company only had six bus units with limited route services, namely Yogyakarta–Jakarta via the southern and central Java routes,^[4] by taking over the PO Jaya route. To support his business activities, Judi moved the company's operational and management center to Kutoarjo, Purworejo, to more easily control administrative activities, the workshop, and customer service. Himawan Hambali then went to Jakarta to process the deed of establishment of a limited liability company under the legal name PT Sumber Alam Ekspres. Because PO Jaya was already using the legal name PT Sumber Alam, a notary decided to prepare the deed of establishment of PT Sumber Alam Ekspres with a domicile in Jakarta.^[1]

In 1984, no longer able to manage PO Sumber Alam, his two brothers handed over Sumber Alam entirely to Judi Setijawan. Then in the 1990s, Hidup Baru and Kencana Jaya were also merged into Sumber Alam.^[4][2] Under his leadership, Judi Setijawan managed the company with the principles of family, skill, and innovation sustainable. It is known that Judi Setijawan is also very skilled as a mechanic and likes to maintain old vehicles. As an automotive hobbyist, he collects 20 antique vehicles as a collection.^[5]

Sumber Alam not only serves intercity routes (AKDP) but also serves interprovincial routes and shuttle buses. This excellent service has made Sumber Alam a reliable choice for people along the South Coast of Java to travel to Jakarta and surrounding areas. ^[5]

As its operational scale increased, Sumber Alam began to diversify its business beyond the transportation sector. The company established a public fueling station (SPBU) in Kutoarjo to serve both the fleet's internal needs and the general public. Furthermore, Sumber Alam has developed transit restaurants on major routes, which not only serve as rest areas for passengers but also as a source of additional revenue for the company. These innovations strengthen PO Sumber Alam's position as a major player in the national land transportation industry.^[5][4]

Entering the 2000s, PO Sumber Alam began entering a new chapter in its company history with the passing of leadership to the next generation of the family. The figure who then emerged was Anthony Steven Hambali, familiarly known as Tony, the great-grandson of the founder Thung and son of Judi Setijawan. Around 2001, Tony began to actively participate in the company's management. His arrival marked the beginning of a leadership regeneration that was not merely symbolic, but also brought a spirit of renewal to the management of the bus company, which had long been active in the Indonesian land transportation industry.^[1]

Early in his involvement in management, Tony demonstrated a fairly progressive business vision. One of his key initiatives was the establishment of a tourism bus division as a new business line outside of regular services. During the planning process, Tony proposed that the tourism bus fleet be specifically separated from the regular fleet, both in terms of management and service identity. This move reflected his understanding of market segmentation and the need for different service standards between intercity public transportation and tourism services.^[2]

Before taking full control of the company, Tony chose to learn from the ground up by immersing himself in operational processes in the field. He studied various important aspects, from route management systems and fleet maintenance management to the dynamics of day-to-day customer service. This approach gave him a real understanding of the challenges faced by the company and its employees. His humble demeanor, keen curiosity, and willingness to listen made Tony relatively quickly accepted by the long-time employees who had served Sumber Alam for decades. ^[6]

Tony's humorous personality, simpleness, and openness to innovation and new ideas have been hallmarks of his leadership from the beginning. He maintains a close relationship with both employees and customers and is known for actively interacting with the Indonesian bus enthusiast community. Through social media, Tony frequently shares his daily activities related to the world of bus transportation, thereby making PO Sumber Alam feel more accessible and down-to-earth to the public. This communication approach also strengthens the emotional connection between the company, its customers, and bus enthusiasts.

During this regeneration process, PO Sumber Alam has also received various recognitions for its performance. In 2007, the company received an award for "Best Bus Company" from the then-Minister of Transportation of Indonesia, Jusman Syafii Djamal. This recognition confirms Sumber Alam's position as one of the bus operators to be reckoned with nationally.^[5] Furthermore, on March 16, 2011, the Ministry of Transportation of the Republic of Indonesia again presented a loyalty award for Sumber Alam's 30 years of contribution to the history of bus transportation in Indonesia, marking the company's consistency in serving the community across generations.^[7]

Under Tony's leadership, Sumber Alam underwent a significant transformation, particularly in terms of digitalization and improving the quality of public services. He introduced an online ticketing booking system, adopted digital-based fleet management, and built a strong corporate image through social media. Tony also placed great emphasis on employee welfare, particularly drivers and crew members, by providing safety and customer service training. His concern for the community is reflected in the policy of holding back ticket price increases during the Lebaran homecoming period to keep them affordable.^[6] After the death of Judi Setijawan on November 27, 2017, Tony officially took over the leadership,^[8] and on the 50th anniversary of Sumber Alam he launched the company's new branding.^[9] Finally, on November 15, 2025, Sumber Alam won the People's Choice Award from redBus as the Most Favorite Medium AKAP in Central Java, confirming the success of the combination of modern business strategies and humanist social values ​​​​during his leadership era.^[10]

Sumber Alam uses various types of chassis, but the Hino chassis has been the most reliable since its inception, and is still being added to the fleet by Daimler Trucks. Throughout its history, Hino (RM, RG, and RK) vehicles, with their Euro 4 emission standards, have been the mainstay. When its director, Boy Setyadi Nugroho, was asked about Sumber Alam's love for Hino chassis, he replied that Judi Setijawan had a friend who was close to Hino Motors employees. However, the new units actually use the front-engine Mercedes-Benz OF 1623 chassis, with air suspension.^[11]

For large buses, Sumber Alam has been loyal to bodywork buses produced by Laksana from time to time. Even Dimas Raditya, an active member of the Indonesian Bismania Forum, said that Sumber Alam is one of the few Indonesian bus companies that has never used buses made by the Adi Putro bodywork company in its entire life, along with Anas Nasional Sejahtera (ANS), Arimbi/Bima Suci, Borlindo, Mayasari Bakti, and Tentrem. In addition, the two companies are also involved in the development of bio smart buses^[12] and physical distancing buses with spaced seat configurations and additional air circulation filtration, during the Covid-19 pandemic.^[13] Meanwhile, for the shuttle bus fleet, it uses a body made by New Armada, with a Hino 115 SDBL STD Euro 4 chassis; and small bus units assembled by Trijaya Union, with Neo Grantour bodywork.^[14][15]

To celebrate its 50th anniversary, Sumber Alam launched four new buses from Trijaya Union with Triun DX bodies, a new paint scheme dominated by navy blue and white, and a new company logo. The company's new slogan, "Family on Your Journey™," was also affixed to the bus bodies. In addition, Sumber Alam also introduced a new service class New Generation Executive Class which features a special interior with 26 leg-rest seats, a more spacious cabin without overhead luggage, pillars with illuminated ornaments, special curtains, and bio-filter features and AC inlets for passenger comfort during long journeys.^[9]

Sumber Alam has collaborated with Kalista, a subsidiary of Indika Energy, to provide the first longest electric bus intercity interprovincial (AKAP) service in Indonesia, with the Yogyakarta–Bekasi (Pondok Ungu) route, using the Higer KLQ6121ZAEV electric bus fleet.^[16][17] When Kompas.com asked Tony about this strategic collaboration, he replied that until 2025, the Government has not had any concrete steps that can be taken immediately regarding the energy transition for intercity buses. This makes Sumber Alam still think about whether it wants to collaborate with government institutions. According to him, collaborating with the private sector with carefully calculated capital is considered sufficient and can be executed immediately without a lengthy and complicated process. ^[18]

Sumber Alam has established an operational cooperation with two leading bus companies in Indonesia to expand its service reach through a pass ticket scheme. The two partners are PO Haryanto based in Kudus Regency, Central Java, and NPM (Naikilah Perusahaan Minang) from Padang Panjang, West Sumatra. This collaboration allows passengers to get the convenience of inter-island travel without having to buy separate tickets, because the through ticket system has been integrated between companies. Through this cooperation pattern, Sumber Alam passengers from the Yogyakarta route who want to go to cities in Sumatra such as Bandar Lampung, Palembang, Jambi, to Padang will transit and continue their journey using the NPM fleet. This scheme not only expands inter-regional connectivity, but also strengthens Sumber Alam's position as an adaptive operator in building inter-island networks.^[19][20]

Since its inception, Sumber Alam has focused its business on inter-provincial intercity bus services (AKAP) as the company's backbone. The main route pioneered since its early operations is the route from DKI Jakarta (Jabodetabek) to Special Region of Yogyakarta and various cities in Central Java. This route is via the central route connected to the southern route of Java Island, making it one of the important corridors in the company's land transportation network. ^[4] Along with infrastructure development, Sumber Alam also operates services via the Trans-Java Toll Road, particularly via Kartasura. Utilizing this toll road allows for shorter travel times while increasing travel comfort. The presence of the toll road option demonstrates the company's ability to adapt to changes in the national transportation system and the community's growing mobility needs. ^[21]

In addition to inter-provincial (AKAP) services, Sumber Alam also operates shuttle buses within the province (AJDP) and between provinces (AJAP). Currently, the AJDP routes that are still active are Semarang–Purworejo–Cilacap. Previously, this bus company also served the routes Semarang–Purwokerto, Banyumas (AJDP) and Semarang–Magelang–Yogyakarta (AJAP). This service complements the main AKAP network by targeting medium-distance mobility requiring flexibility and higher travel frequency.^[22]

A significant innovation in the company's development occurred in the early 2000s when Anthony Steven Hambali initiated the establishment of a tour bus division. Since its inception in 2001, this division has been designed separately from the regular division, although the fleet's appearance bears a resemblance to AKAP buses. This separation aims to maintain service standards, fleet maintenance, and market segmentation between regular passengers and tourist customers.^[2]

Besides operating tourist buses, Sumber Alam is also known for its collection of vintage cars and buses. Examples include the Mitsubishi Fuso R Series 470 (produced in 1963) and the Dodge D Series (produced in the 1970s), with their distinctive bonnets. These buses are only rented out for, for example, historical tours of Purworejo Regency, pre-wedding events, and film props. Films that use Sumber Alam's vintage buses include Gundala (film), Si Manis Jembatan Ancol (2019 film), Srimulat (Sweet Ancol Bridge), and Srimulat: The Impossible Hill - First Act. ^[23]

In addition to vintage cars and buses, Sumber Alam is also known for its exclusive charter fleet, including chartered limousines. This bus is claimed to be one of the first tronton (triple-axle) buses in Indonesia, using a Mercedes-Benz OH 1521 chassis with a length of 13.20 m (43.3 ft) and a body made by Laksana. The facilities are considered luxurious, including two separate audio-visual rooms, premium seats, a mini pantry, toilet, sofa, and lift for the disabled. Due to its modification, this limousine bus even achieved the Indonesian World Records Museum (MURI) record in 2009 as the longest modified limousine bus in Indonesia, confirming Sumber Alam's image as an innovative operator in premium charter services.^[24]

• Kurniawan, M.K.; Sandika, A.Z.; Wibowo, D.A.; Wigayana, K.B.; Muthoriq, E. (2025). "EVALUATION OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (PT SUMBER ALAM EKSPRES)". Jurnal Abdimas Transjaya. 3 (1): 1–11.
• Riani, E.D.S. (2018). THE EFFECT OF SERVICE QUALITY ON LOYALTY THROUGH CUSTOMER SATISFACTION AS AN INTERVENING VARIABLE (Case Study on Passengers of PO. Sumber Alam Shuttle on the Semarang-Cilacap Lines) (S1 thesis). Universitas Diponegoro. Retrieved 2025-11-01.

Media related to Sumber Alam at Wikimedia Commons

• Sumber Alam ticket sales website

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sumber Alam.