Corruption at airport

Corruption at airport

From Warta Kota

On Feb. 23, I landed at Soekarno-Hatta Airport from
Yogyakarta, and looked for a Blue Bird taxi to go home.

Unfortunately, no sooner had I entered the taxi than a Top
Guards security guard stopped us and threateningly asked for some
money.

While the taxi driver was trying to find a Rp 5,000 note, the
automobile behind honked at us. The driver got nervous and the
security guard in question seized the car keys and drove away. I
was surprised to witness this, as I had never seen anything like
it at any other international airport.

Later, I had a quarrel with this security guard as I insisted
that he returned the car keys to the taxi driver. It turned out
that he had handed over the keys to Second Lt. Hrt, an officer in
a dark blue uniform, who apologized to me. I soon learned of the
cooperation between the security guard and the security officer.

I also learned that at this airport, a taxi using a meter is
not allowed to take passengers. Taxis without a meter are allowed
to pick up passengers, as they give some money to the security
guards and security officers. If a taxi with a meter insists on
taking a passenger, it will have to pay a fine of Rp 100,000 to
the security guard. This is really the law of the jungle.

As this extortion is openly practiced, tourists will find it
horrible and will be discouraged from visiting our country.
Besides, if you want to enter the lobby of the airport, you also
have to pay the official fee and a tip. Bribery like this will
only make the airport vulnerable to terrorism and other criminal
acts.

PT Angkasa Pura, the company managing this airport, must take
immediate action to address this problem.

ABU ALI, Jakarta