'Actresses also affected by price increases'

'Actresses also affected by price increases'

The increasing fuel prices and utility rates affect not only the
low-income people, but also many others from all walks of life,
including celebrities. The Jakarta Post talked to some actresses
about the impact of the hike.

Nurul Arifin, 36, an actress and anti-AIDS activist. She
resides in Cinere, South Jakarta, with her husband and two
children:

I feel the impact of the fuel price and utility rate hikes
despite my status as an actress. I'm also a housewife who has to
manage the household finances.

Now I have to spend more than Rp 50,000 a day to cover the
cost of daily staple foods for my family. Previously, it was far
less than that.

Telephone rates and electricity increases in fact have
burdened me more. Before the hike, I paid around Rp 800,000 a
month for electricity, but after the increase, I will have to pay
more than Rp 900,000 a month.

But I don't have any problem with fuel for my cars.

Being an actress is just a bunch temporary jobs which means
that my income is greatly based on job orders. So, it does not
mean that actresses are not affected by the economic slump.

But I can understand how the low-income people should suffer
more from such condition. I guess, as part of my concern, I have
to increase the salaries of my five servants.

I will support the "people power" movement if the government
remains inactive (to help the poor). Personally, I hate the
government for being arrogant and inattentive to the needs of
poor people in the country.

Ratna Riantiarno, 50, a noted theater artist who resides in
Bintaro, Tangerang, with her husband, Nano Riantiarno, who is
also an artist, and their three children:

Honestly I feel the impact of the price increases, because I
have a car which uses diesel.

My residence is far from my children's schools and most of
them have a lot of extracurricular activities. It means that they
would have spend more for fuel, right?

In a way, people might think that we are well off. But, in
fact, that's not completely true. I'm not a famous star. My
husband and I don't have fixed incomes to support our family.

So, I also experience the condition similar to the poor
people. Telephone and electricity rate increases are really a
burden for us too.

Therefore, I always tell my children to be more thrifty when
using the telephone and electricity. At least it will teach them
the value of being more economical in such an economic slowdown.

I just hope that the government can rethink this, particularly
as it most affects the poor who are in dire need of affordable
staple foods.

Ira Wibowo, 35, an actress and television presenter who
resides in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, with her husband and
three children:

Being an actress does not mean that I will not experience the
impact of the higher fuel and utility prices.

Perhaps, it's true that I'm a bit more fortunate compared to
many low-income people who are suffering miserably from the
economic conditions here.

The most significant impact for my life is the telephone and
electricity rates. But I don't want to mention the figures in my
bills. I think mentioning the amount of my budget is a sensitive
matter, especially in such a time of economic downturn.

The social discrepancy between the rich and the impoverished
massive indeed.

I guess the government is not smart enough to make the
decision to raise the prices at a better time. This year will no
longer be a promising year for many people due to the tougher
life.

I agree that the rich should help the poor people, for
instance by paying their income tax properly and on time. In my
business contract, my earnings have always been cut for taxes.
Hopefully, it is used by our leaders to subsidize the needy.

-- Leo Wahyudi S