Are phone rate
\nrises cynical?<\/p>\n
From Koran Tempo<\/p>\n
The hike in electricity rates and fuel prices can perhaps be
\nunderstood, as the state electricity company (PLN) and the oil
\ncompany (Pertamina) have suffered financial losses, even though
\npeople cannot prove whether the losses were caused purely by
\ntheir operational fees or various manipulations.<\/p>\n
What about the telephone rate increases? The board of
\ndirectors of the state telecommunications company (Telkom) has
\nadmitted that, at the company's current rates, it is still able
\nto earn some profit, despite the company's alleged manipulation
\nof about Rp 600 billion, as Koran Tempo's edition of Jan. 24,
\n2002, reported in a story titled Roy Suryo: Public should know
\nthe rate formula.<\/p>\n
The government is raising the telephone rate at a time when
\npeople are still disturbed by fresh fuel price hikes. Where is
\nthe government's concern or sense of crisis? Or, will this fresh
\nhike illicitly benefit from the fuel price hikes? The public does
\nnot wish to be bothered by the rise in telephone rates because
\nits attention is focused on the increase in the price of fuel.<\/p>\n
\"The rate increase is needed to ensure that the
\ntelecommunications network in the country, which is the most
\nunderdeveloped in the ASEAN region, will be built,\" said Agum
\nGumelar.<\/p>\n
Agum seems to feel ashamed about the \"backwardness\" of the
\ncountry's telecommunications system. Yet, as a Cabinet member, he
\nseems not to be ashamed about the country's general economic
\nstate. Will Agum still be proud if our telecommunications
\nfacilities are later developed while our people remain poor?<\/p>\n
If every minister tried to be the most technologically
\nsophisticated in his respective field by ignoring the wishes of
\nthe majority of the people, what would become of the Republic?<\/p>\n
Perhaps, Agum Gumelar has calculated that the country's
\ntelephone users make up a maximum of 15 percent of fuel users and
\non average they are relatively well-off. Therefore he and the
\nminister of energy and mineral resources may feel confident that
\nthere will be no protest rallies against them.<\/p>\n
If that is the case, what more can one say?<\/p>\n
DEHEN BINTI
\nBanjarmasin, South Kalimantan<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/are-phone-rate-1447899208",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}