Report on Rp 2m fee for ID card not true<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Officials and a journalist acknowledged over the
\nweekend that recent reports on ID card processing fees, which
\nwere said to range from Rp 500,000 (US$211.59) to Rp 2 million,
\nwere false.<\/p>\n
Officials did not deny, however, that people were paying up to
\nRp 150,000 to service bureaus which promised to take care of
\ntheir documents at the subdistrict offices.<\/p>\n
\"We cannot prohibit people from paying private parties,\"
\nSudarsono, the mayor of East Jakarta, said.<\/p>\n
\"However, I thank you anyway for the reports, which I have
\nused to improve the mayoralty services to the public,\" he said
\nduring a meeting in his office.<\/p>\n
The meeting was attended by the head of the mayoralty
\npopulation agency, Daulat Lumban Tobing, Joseph Lea Wea of the
\nmayoralty-based Urban Consultative Institute and his colleagues,
\nas well as reporters.<\/p>\n
A local newspaper reported last week that several people
\ncomplained to the institute about the extortion practices
\nconnected with the issuance of ID cards.<\/p>\n
The paper also quoted Tobing and Joseph as confirming the
\nreports. According to the paper, the extortion practices were
\ncarried out by brokers, private firms which deal in offering
\nservices to the public.<\/p>\n
The reporter who wrote the extortion story, however,
\nacknowledged that it was partly incorrect.<\/p>\n
\"I beg your pardon Mr. Mayor, I was confused with a similar
\nstory taking place in another mayoralty,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Sudarsono said that he welcomed any criticism, as long as it
\nwas nothing personal.<\/p>\n
He added that he was not offended by the news report, although
\nhe was summoned by Governor Surjadi Soedirdja to give an
\nexplanation.<\/p>\n
Sudarsono said it was impossible to prohibit brokers from
\noperating in the mayoralty. The broker firms have the right to
\noffer services to people, he said.<\/p>\n
\"What I can do is order my subordinates, the subdistrict
\nheads, not to deal with the brokers in any business,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Sudarsono also acknowledged that other services, such as the
\nissuance of building permits, are still complicated.<\/p>\n
\"For example, currently there are two offices which are doing
\nthe same job, measuring every piece of land before issuing the
\nlicense,\" said Sudarsono. He promised to make the process
\nsimpler. (kod)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/report-on-rp-2m-fee-for-id-card-not-true-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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