'I doubt corruption can be eliminated'

'I doubt corruption can be eliminated'

Many motorists obtain their driver's license illegally as they do
not take the tests. They said they reluctantly used the services
of middlemen to avoid red tape. They supported the
decentralization of the service to the city's police precincts
even though they claimed this would not discourage the middlemen.

Djamaludin, 40, a taxi driver for seven years. He lives with
his parents in Petukangan, South Jakarta. His wife and three
children live in Gombong, Central Java:

When I applied for my driver's license and renewed it, I
reluctantly used a middleman to obtain my license more quickly. I
had undergone the test but failed regardless of my high score.
Money had the power to make me pass the test.

I think the new system to decentralize the license renewal
service is a good idea. But, I still wonder if the police could
take stern action against the networks between middlemen and
unscrupulous police officers.

Marta, 58, a driver for inter-provinces public bus plying to
Surabaya, East Java and Jakarta. He resides in Daan Mogot, West
Jakarta with his wife and six children:

I haven't directly felt the effect of obtaining the driver's
license illegally. I just felt upset and a bit angry as the
middlemen forced me to accept their services.

The way drivers obtain their license does not have anything to
do with the way they drive. It depends on the personality of the
drivers and the way they behave on the street. Many times the
driver disobeys the traffic signs but it has no correlation with
the license itself.

I welcome the new decentralized system, but I still doubt if
the practice of the middlemen and corrupt officials can be
eliminated.

I guess it would even be more rampant because each police
precinct will have its own network between middlemen and their
officers. If it happens, I'm afraid I may have to pay double than
that of the previous system.

Personally, I don't want to deal with any middleman as I was
once cheated by one. I prefer to obtain the license myself by
following the procedures. By taking the test I would be able to
know my own ability.

Didi, 32, a trader in Cawang, East Jakarta. He lives in
Condet, East Jakarta with his Betawi family:

The new policy for decentralizing the service is very good.
But it won't automatically cure the mental illness among the
unscrupulous police officers and the middlemen. The policy here
will only reduce the distance but not the corrupt system.

I obtained my driver's license by following the legal
procedures. However, it does not mean that I could avoid the
illegal extortion from the corrupt officials at every counter.

Salamun, a civil servant working for the state secretary. He
lives in Tangerang with his wife and three children.

I followed the right procedures to apply for my driver's
license and to renew it. Once, I used the service of a middleman
to renew my license. But the process was still the same as when I
did myself. It took the same amount of time.

I just felt upset and annoyed because many middlemen came and
forced me to hire them.

Hopefully with the new system, motorists can save time and
money and receive better services. I'm afraid that there will not
be any (civilian) middlemen around as they may be replaced by
corrupt officials.

-- Leo Wahyudi S