Debate of public service bill begins

Debate of public service bill begins

Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

According to a new bill, better times are ahead for hard-pressed
members of the public trying to access public services.

The government says the bill provides a ray of hope that major
changes for the better will be instituted within the country's
public service, long condemned as been corrupt and unresponsive.

State Minister for Administrative Reforms Taufik Effendi and
the House of Representatives home affairs commission commenced
the deliberation of the bill on Wednesday.

A number of provisions in the bill will be controversial,
including the possibility of public servant becoming active in
political parties.

Article 7 of the bill says that public servants are prohibited
from participating in business and/or political organizations
unless otherwise provided for by law.

The "unless" part is seen as opening up the possibility of
public servants being allowed to joni political parties
--something that is prohibited by the current Political Parties
Law due to concerns of partiality in the providing of public
services.

The debate on public servants joining political parties has
resurfaced after Vice President Jusuf Kalla, also the chairman of
the country's largest party, Golkar, said the idea should not be
completely ruled out of hand.

Article 27 of the bill says that providers can set prices for
their services provided that this is done in accordance with law.

"It has to be stressed that this should only be permissible
for services provided by state-owned enterprises that are
required to be profitable. But I don't want this to be applicable
to the provision of basic human rights, such as ID card
registration," said lawmaker Suryama Majana Sastra from the
Prosperous Justice Party (PKS).

Another contentious point is article 28, which says that the
cost of things as ID cards and birth certificates shall be
covered by the state, but additional costs may also be possible
due to the differing financial capacities of local administrations.

The bill requires all service providers to a establish service
standards, including application procedures, time targets, fees,
complaint procedures and service guarantees.

Complaint procedures, says the bill, must clearly explain the
who, where and how, and the resolution of all complaint should be
reported to the minister.

The bill also allows members of the public to personally or
collectively sue providers who provide unsatisfactory services or
abuse their powers.