'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