'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