Awards planned for best public services

JAKARTA (JP): The government plans to present awards to some of the country's top public service institutions, in connection with Indonesia's 50th independence anniversary this August.

State Minister of Administrative Reform T.B. Silalahi told reporters yesterday that 51 institutes have already been selected, ranging from hospitals and police stations, to district administrative offices and tax offices, chosen because they are known for their true dedication, in their chosen line of work, to the public.

A team to select the winners has already been formed, comprising not only of government officials, but also members of the House of Representatives, representatives from the business community, the media and consumer groups.

This team would be sent to inspect the nominations.

"Say, for example, the Banjarmasin hospital (South Kalimantan) has been nominated. The team would check whether the hospital is insisting on patients putting down deposits before being admitted. Now, that's not the way to run a hospital, is it?"

The criteria are that they truly serve the public, he said, adding that the images of some of these highly dedicated institutes have often been marred because of the behavior of one their offices. "Just because one office issuing drivers' license is bad, people think that all such offices are bad. Isn't that wrong?"

Silalahi made the announcement after meeting with President Soeharto, who will announce the winners and present the awards personally next month.

Yesterday, the minister also briefed the President about the trial run of the five-day working week for civil servants, which was started last year.

He said the President is expected to announce, in his Independence Day speech on Aug. 16, whether the five-day working week would be adopted.

Under the current trial, most government offices only open one Saturday a month. If the plan is adopted, they would be closed every Saturday. (emb)