{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1141080,
        "msgid": "the-president-does-hear-you-1447893297",
        "date": "2005-12-13 00:00:00",
        "title": "'The President does hear you'",
        "author": null,
        "source": "JP",
        "tags": null,
        "topic": null,
        "summary": "'The President does hear you' Fadli, The Jakarta Post, Batam Writing to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is a bit like sending a letter to Santa Claus in that no one actually expects a reply. Nonetheless a response from the President was received by Riau Islands Governor Ismeth Abdullah, albeit to the letters and text messages of hundreds of his constituents, who complained about being forced to pay illegal fees to get identity cards made and to enter Batam through Sekupang port.",
        "content": "<p>'The President does hear you'<\/p>\n<p>Fadli, The Jakarta Post, Batam<\/p>\n<p>Writing to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is a bit like<br>\nsending a letter to Santa Claus in that no one actually expects a<br>\nreply.<\/p>\n<p>Nonetheless a response from the President was received by Riau<br>\nIslands Governor Ismeth Abdullah, albeit to the letters and text<br>\nmessages of hundreds of his constituents, who complained about<br>\nbeing forced to pay illegal fees to get identity cards made and<br>\nto enter Batam through Sekupang port.<\/p>\n<p>Head of the Riau Islands administration's public relations<br>\noffice Muhammad Nur told The Jakarta Post on Saturday that the<br>\ngovernor was so surprised by the letter he had immediately set<br>\nabout relaying its contents to districts and subdistrict heads.<\/p>\n<p>The collection of illegal levies in making identity cards is a<br>\ncommon practice in the province's regional offices.<\/p>\n<p>On top of the official fee of Rp 25,000 to get an identity<br>\ncard made, one regularly has to pay between Rp 200,000 and Rp<br>\n500,000, and even up to Rp 1 million for Chinese-Indonesians.<br>\nRefusal to pay up invariably leads to long delays.<\/p>\n<p>Under bylaw No. 2\/2001 on registration and population control<br>\nin Batam city, non-residents arriving on Batam should<br>\nhave with them enough money to buy a ticket home and someone who<br>\ncan guarantee them accommodation on the island.<\/p>\n<p>If the newcomer fails to meet the requirements, he or she will<br>\nbe forced to leave the island on the next ship.<\/p>\n<p>However, in practice, the bylaw is being used by irresponsible<br>\nofficials.<\/p>\n<p>In reality, many non-residents coming to the island by sea can<br>\nenter the island even though they fail to meet the two<br>\nrequirements -- if they pay up to Rp 100,000 per person to the<br>\nofficial on duty.<\/p>\n<p>\"We've asked Batam city administration to monitor the<br>\nimplementation of the bylaw, to see whether it should be<br>\nreviewed. We've also asked the administration to restore order<br>\nand stop the collection of illegal fees,\" Nur said.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/the-president-does-hear-you-1447893297",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}