Greedy banks and money changers

Greedy banks and money changers

From Pikiran Rakyat

When the continuous monetary upheavals hit most people and all of us take steps to reduce our burdens, banks and money changers show themselves as antisocial in handling dollar transactions.

There are many people who willingly suffer losses by selling their dollars. Banks and money changers arbitrarily fix their buying and selling rates with a difference of more than Rp 1,000 per U.S. dollar. Thus, they profit to a high degree from the sacrifice of patriots. I see it as a betrayal of the sincere intention of dollar possessors and as an action undermining the effectiveness of the "Love rupiah" drive.

The government should issue a regulation that the difference in buying and selling should not exceed Rp 100 per dollar. Violators of the regulation should be treated the same way as hoarders of the nine staple foods.

I trust that many of our bankers and financiers are patriotic enough to contribute to the lessening of our common suffering by showing moderation in their greed.

BAMBANG HIDAYAT

Bandung, West Java