'Does the government want us to be poorer?'

The city administration announced its decision to raise tap water rates by between 4 percent and 16 percent, 10 days after the hike took effect on Jan. 20. The Jakarta Post asked residents about their opinion on the issue.

Elok, 32, is a waitress at a restaurant in Tebet, South Jakarta. She lives in Menteng Dalam also in South Jakarta:

I is neither necessary nor wise for the administration to increase the tap water rate as residents already have many other things to pay, such as electricity bills and transportation expenses which also keep on increasing.

I know there is no such thing as a free lunch in the capital, but at least we should be able to pay as little as possible for water.

As far as I know, tap water is mostly consumed by people with a fixed income, such as civil servants or low-level employees of private companies who live in housing complexes.

With the price of fuel on the rise, additional expenses will surely be a headache.

Bambang, 35, works in a foreign bank in Central Jakarta. He lives with wife and two children at a housing complex in Tanah Kusir, South Jakarta:

I don't understand why the price of everything is increasing during President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono tenure. Fuel prices and electricity rates went up first, and now tap water ... Does the government really want us to get poorer?

Actually, I wouldn't mind the increase if there was a reasonable explanation.

But if the money gained from the increase only benefits several groups of people or officials, it will hurt everyone else.

So, if the city administration wants to raise the water rates they should make it public and not do it secretly as if they are doing something wrong and trying to hide it.

Even if the increase is necessary, I think it should be made based on the customers' financial capability. People with a higher income must pay more than people in the low-income bracket.

--The Jakarta Post