Illegal fees

Illegal fees
still rife

From Kompas

I recently processed a permit in an office under the
supervision of the finance ministry. Talking with one of the
office division heads, I was told that the office had a very
limited operational fund while it had to provide services to the
public to process various permits. He went on to say that
sometimes its staffers had to make their own efforts to provide
or fix office equipment and were forced to ask the public's
understanding.

Moreover, if people require their permits to be processed
quickly, the practice of imposing illegal charges prevails.

Terms referring to this have become popular cliches, such as
"short cut" or "via the toll road". The practice of corruption,
collusion and nepotism (KKN) continue. It is carried out
blatantly and has become commonplace; it is widely practiced in
many government institutions serving the public. A person will
not receive good service if he or she doesn't give extra money.

As the government is lacking in funds, illegal fees and KKN
have become rife while the public finds it difficult to oppose.
Public officials will do everything to make someone produce some
money, saying that their superior is in the meeting, the staff
members concerned are not available, etc., to delay the
processing of a permit.

The public is generally in a weak bargaining position and
afraid of protesting in fear that they will have more
difficulties in processing their permits. It is really unfair. I
think, besides the improvement of public officials' welfare,
several things in public institutions should also be put in order
to eradicate illegal charges and KKN. For example, the upgrading
of office work equipment, the improvement in the quality of human
resources, complete and clear laws and consistent law
enforcement.

JONO

Jakarta