City to cut red tape for ID document<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The city administration plans to scrap eight of
\nthe 21 identification documents that foreigners, Chinese-
\nIndonesians, non-Jakartans and even Jakartans require to live in
\nthe nation's capital, an official said yesterday.<\/p>\n
The assistant to the city secretary for administrative
\naffairs, Tursandi Alwi, said that ending these bureaucratic
\nprerequisites would demonstrate the administration's
\ndetermination to improve its public services in line with the
\nspirit of reform.<\/p>\n
\"We know people complain about the burdensome regulations on
\npopulation documents. That's why we intend to simplify the
\nprocedures,\" Tursandi said.<\/p>\n
The eight requirements to be abandoned include a card bearing
\na registration number for residents below 17 years old and for
\nunmarried indigenous Indonesians, a letter which Jakartans must
\nobtain if they wish to move their residence to beyond the city's
\njurisdiction, an identification card required for the special
\ncitizenship granted to Chinese-Indonesians (popularly known as a
\nK1), which must be submitted with applications for the statutory
\nKTP identification card, and a card granting temporary residence
\nto Chinese-Indonesians which is also necessary to obtain a KTP.<\/p>\n
Also on the list to be scrapped is a letter required by
\nforeigners applying for citizenship or temporary residence to
\nverify their credentials and a further letter which is required
\nto clarify those same credentials. Also to be abandoned is the
\npreliminary examination approval letter which is required by non-
\nJakartans who wish to live in the nation's capital.<\/p>\n
According to Tursandi, the use of many of these documents has
\nalready lapsed.<\/p>\n
He said the administration has finished studying plans to
\nsmoothen the process of applying for population documents.<\/p>\n
\"We're now waiting for approval from the city council,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
City Governor Sutiyoso announced plans to scrap the K1 card on
\nThursday before 200 Chinese-Indonesians at the city hall.<\/p>\n
He said the card was being scrapped to bring the rules
\ngoverning Chinese-Indonesian KTP applicants into line with those
\nlaid out for other ethnic groups in Indonesian society.<\/p>\n
\"I admit that Chinese-Indonesians are discriminated against,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Unlike other ethnic groups, Chinese-Indonesians must present
\ntheir K1 cards, naturalization documents for those who have
\nadopted Indonesian names, and identification letters from their
\nneighborhood or subdistrict chiefs when they apply to renew their
\nKTP -- which every Indonesian citizen must do once every three
\nyears.<\/p>\n
According to E.J.A. Hutapea, chief of the West Jakarta office
\nof the city's Population Agency, the K1 card is only required by
\nChinese-Indonesians. Other ethnic groups, such as Indians and
\nArabs, do not have to comply with this requirement, Hutapea said.<\/p>\n
\"Chinese-Indonesians are treated differently because they are
\nthe biggest ethnic group which originally came from outside the
\ncountry. They have a large community in the country,\" he added.<\/p>\n
\"We are therefore afraid that the Chinese will obtain local ID
\ncards if they are not required to submit their K1 cards when
\napplying,\" Hutapea said. (ind)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/city-to-cut-red-tape-for-id-document-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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