Debate of public service bill begins<\/p>\n
Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
According to a new bill, better times are ahead for hard-pressed
\nmembers of the public trying to access public services.<\/p>\n
The government says the bill provides a ray of hope that major
\nchanges for the better will be instituted within the country's
\npublic service, long condemned as been corrupt and unresponsive.<\/p>\n
State Minister for Administrative Reforms Taufik Effendi and
\nthe House of Representatives home affairs commission commenced
\nthe deliberation of the bill on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
A number of provisions in the bill will be controversial,
\nincluding the possibility of public servant becoming active in
\npolitical parties.<\/p>\n
Article 7 of the bill says that public servants are prohibited
\nfrom participating in business and\/or political organizations
\nunless otherwise provided for by law.<\/p>\n
The "unless" part is seen as opening up the possibility of
\npublic servants being allowed to joni political parties
\n--something that is prohibited by the current Political Parties
\nLaw due to concerns of partiality in the providing of public
\nservices.<\/p>\n
The debate on public servants joining political parties has
\nresurfaced after Vice President Jusuf Kalla, also the chairman of
\nthe country's largest party, Golkar, said the idea should not be
\ncompletely ruled out of hand.<\/p>\n
Article 27 of the bill says that providers can set prices for
\ntheir services provided that this is done in accordance with law.<\/p>\n
"It has to be stressed that this should only be permissible
\nfor services provided by state-owned enterprises that are
\nrequired to be profitable. But I don't want this to be applicable
\nto the provision of basic human rights, such as ID card
\nregistration," said lawmaker Suryama Majana Sastra from the
\nProsperous Justice Party (PKS).<\/p>\n
Another contentious point is article 28, which says that the
\ncost of things as ID cards and birth certificates shall be
\ncovered by the state, but additional costs may also be possible
\ndue to the differing financial capacities of local administrations.<\/p>\n
The bill requires all service providers to a establish service
\nstandards, including application procedures, time targets, fees,
\ncomplaint procedures and service guarantees.<\/p>\n
Complaint procedures, says the bill, must clearly explain the
\nwho, where and how, and the resolution of all complaint should be
\nreported to the minister.<\/p>\n
The bill also allows members of the public to personally or
\ncollectively sue providers who provide unsatisfactory services or
\nabuse their powers.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/debate-of-public-service-bill-begins-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}