Indonesian postal rates

Indonesian postal rates

I have to bring to your attention the exorbitant Indonesian
postal rates. Over the last four years of economic turmoil in
Indonesia, the postal rates have been going up and such hikes are
quite understandable, but this time the new rates have crossed
all limits.

Recently, I went to post an ordinary letter (below 20 grams)
to Singapore and was astonished when told that it would cost Rp
15,500. The postal rates must have a relationship to costs. Have
the costs gone up so much that the increase in the postal rate is
about 300 percent? After all, the costs in the handling of
letters mainly involve manpower, fuel, maintenance of vehicles,
rental, maintenance of post offices, transportation, fee charged
by the recipient country (if there is any), etc. Can somebody
provide the rationale and justification for such an increase? Is
there a policy which governs a public utility like the postal
system?

To the best of my knowledge, Indonesian postal rates are way
above any meaningful level. In Indonesia, where wages are perhaps
lowest in the world, the postal rates are the highest, even
higher than those prevailing in the United Kingdom and United
States.

I remember seeing similar letters in your column quite some
time back. I also remember seeing a response that gave no clear
answer but just one blanket statement i.e. high costs. But what
costs? Are there any hidden costs beyond our understanding that
exists in Indonesia but not in other countries?

Perhaps this issue should be taken up by an appropriate
consumer forum, if there is one.

S.K. GULIANI

Bontang, East Kalimantan