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