ID card too expensive

ID card too expensive

TANGERANG (JP): Residents of Keroncong Permai have accused their village officials of charging them Rp 30,000 ($8.50) for ID cards which bear the official value of Rp 7,500.

They said that the local administration has made it obligatory for the residents to replace their current ID cards with the new "national" ones, even if they are still valid.

"I will not apply for the new ID card. At this time of (economic) crisis, it would be better to spend the money on rice than on the card," housewife Rianti S. told Antara.

She said she would not recommend her 18-year-old and 17-year- old daughters to apply for the ID card either because it is a lot more expensive than the official price.

Tangerang's mayor said last week he had told village officials not to inflate the costs of ID cards.

He said the central government has subsidized the cost and, therefore, the total fee should not exceed Rp 7,500. (pan)