No one wants complicated bureaucracy to continue<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): As the expiry dates of our personal documents,
\nlike identity cards (IDs), draw near, we are filled with dread.
\nExpatriates come away with a hell-like impression of the country
\nwhen dealing directly with government officials. Wiser locals
\nleave it to the specialists.<\/p>\n
Five residents currently based in Jakarta share their views:<\/p>\n
Guruh Soekarnoputra, well-known choreographer and owner of an
\nentertainment company: The government should find a better system
\nfor processing identity cards or driver's licenses. If necessary,
\nit could make a comparative study with systems in other
\ncountries.<\/p>\n
People want to deal with uncomplicated administrative
\nprocedures that are cheap and don't take up a lot of time. It
\nwould be much better if it was enough for people to have either
\nan identity card or a driver's license (instead of both), their
\nfunction is the same anyway.<\/p>\n
But readiness to streamline such procedures depends on the
\ngovernment, especially the officials' mentality. Are they willing
\nto lose their main source of income? It's no longer a secret that
\nadministrative procedures are used to gain personal profit. It
\nseems like they forget their duty as public servants.<\/p>\n
Panangian Simanungkalit, property analyst: I do not apply for
\nmy own identity card or driver's license because for me, it is
\ntime consuming and I do not have much time for it.<\/p>\n
It's also psychological: the slow service and officials'
\nattitude make me reluctant to do it on my own. So I'd rather pay
\nmore to let others help me get my identity card or driver's
\nlicense than having to suffer.<\/p>\n
Suggestions to streamline procedures are appreciated but it's
\na dream. The government tends to pay more attention to political
\nand economic issues, improving public services would be last on
\ntheir priority list.<\/p>\n
Now, people are so used to bribery practices it's become a
\nculture ... that's even more difficult to change.<\/p>\n
Don Kardimas, an employee of privately run Bank Danamon:<\/p>\n
I was helped by a broker at the police headquarters to obtain
\nmy driver's license several months ago. It cost me only Rp
\n150,000.<\/p>\n
I preferred paying three times the official rate of Rp 52,000
\nthan wait for hours for officials to process the documents.<\/p>\n
Though I still took a written examination, it was just a
\nformality.<\/p>\n
If I had applied for the driver's license myself and followed
\nall the procedures, I would never have got my license. I have
\nheard that officials have created such a system that no one is
\nable to pass the exams, so that all applicants use the service of
\nscalpers.<\/p>\n
But the bottom line is that getting licenses through brokers,
\nno matter how ridiculous and dirty it is, is still mutually
\nbeneficial for me and the broker.<\/p>\n
It is as simple as this: The broker's business runs well and I
\ncan get my driver's license quickly.<\/p>\n
Osvaldo Coelho, a Brazilian expatriate: I think it is
\ndifficult to reform Indonesian bureaucracy. The red tape will
\nremain for a long time despite the campaign currently launched to
\nreform all aspects of life.<\/p>\n
Foreigners are always an easy target for the red tape because,
\nunlike locals, they lack the knowledge to deal with officials.<\/p>\n
Two years ago, I tried to apply, by myself, for the birth
\ncertificate of my now two-year-old daughter. I had to go from
\ndesk to desk and spend US$500 in total to obtain the birth
\ncertificate.<\/p>\n
The government should issue a booklet in English on tips to
\napply for the Non-Permanent Resident Card (KIMS). The only
\navailable booklet is in Bahasa. You know that not many of us
\nunderstand the language.<\/p>\n
An American expatriate, working for a consultancy firm: I have
\nbeen dealing with the people in Indonesia's bureaucracy for three
\nyears due to my job as a consultant for several governmental
\nprojects, including privatization and village development
\nprojects.<\/p>\n
Bureaucracy is bad, even in the United States. But, I think
\nIndonesia has one of the world's worst bureaucracies. Asian
\ncountries in general have big problems with their bureaucracies.
\nI think the worst bureaucracy is in India.<\/p>\n
The current reform campaigns launched by Indonesian people
\nmight change politics and the economy in a relatively short time,
\nbut bureaucracy takes a long time to change.<\/p>\n
If I return to this country in five years, I will probably see
\na more democratic country but the bureaucracy might remain the
\nsame.<\/p>\n
If the bureaucracy is going to change, the National
\nDevelopment Planning Board has the opportunity to change itself
\nmore quickly than other ministries, including the Ministry of
\nForestry and Ministry of Home Affairs, thanks to its officials'
\nhigh levels of education. I am impressed that the board's
\nofficials, even the lower ranking ones, are very well educated.
\n(team)<\/p>",
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