Communications campaign begins<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Poor public services, including
\ntelecommunications and transportation, have remained in a
\nmiserable condition for years.<\/p>\n
Poor habits of the public have also been cited as a major
\ncontribution to the lingering problems.<\/p>\n
In a bid to curb all of these problems, a one-month campaign
\nnamed Communication Service Order Month was officially launched
\nhere on Friday with the hope that the incidence of vandalism of
\nfacilities, such as public telephones and traffic signs, would
\ngradually decrease.<\/p>\n
Minister of Communications Budhi M. Suyitno, who officiated
\nthe campaign launch in a ceremony at Gambir railway station in
\nCentral Jakarta, said that the state-sponsored campaign was
\nessential to improve telecommunications and transportation
\nservices.<\/p>\n
Some people, however, voiced skepticism about such a formal
\nmove.<\/p>\n
"Another campaign ... again? Well, I know that won't work,"
\nsaid Theresia Laban, 29, when asked for her opinion about the
\ncampaign. She said that she had been queuing for train tickets to
\nBandung for more than two hours at Gambir station.<\/p>\n
She recalled the ineffective National Discipline Movement
\n(GDN) canvassed by the government in 1995, which all layers of
\nsociety "were forced" to participate in.<\/p>\n
"We don't need more campaigns. Just improve the existing
\nservices," Theresia told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Another person in the same queue at the railway station, Bugi
\nSimarmata, said that such a campaign would just be a wasteful
\nproject.<\/p>\n
"I wonder why the administration does useless things like the
\nNew Order government did in the past?" he questioned.<\/p>\n
Separately, a public bus driver servicing the Depok-Kalideres
\nroute responded, "I have no idea what the campaign is. Is it some
\nkind of propaganda?"<\/p>\n
"I believe that such a campaign will get no response from the
\npeople because there are no strict sanctions for anyone who
\nrejects it," said the driver, who requested anonymity.<\/p>\n
The campaign will be focused on public communication and
\ntransportation locations in Greater Jakarta, such as railway
\nstations (particularly Gambir and Depok), bus stations, seaports
\n(particularly Merak in Banten) and airports.<\/p>\n
The one-month drive is, however, aimed at improving public
\nawareness by giving more information to the public through
\npamphlets, banners and seminars, instead of punishing people.<\/p>\n
Police are also involved in the campaign, through the
\nprovision of information to people and warnings for those who
\nmake violations.<\/p>\n
The head of research and development department at the
\nMinistry of Communications, Suripto, admitted that the first
\nstage of the campaign was not a punitive period for the public.
\n"But we are targeting the ministry's unscrupulous employees as an
\ninternal move. Meaning that they will be punished when caught
\nviolating any rules," he said. (04)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/communications-campaign-begins-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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