Is a Rp 550 billion fee normal?

Is a Rp 550 billion fee normal?

Supreme Advisory Council (DPA) chairman A.A. Baramuli's
statement in Bisnis Indonesia of Aug. 9 saying that a Rp 550
billion fee is normal is highly arbitrary, thereby treading on
the people's sense of justice. Bank Bali is a public bank with
most of its shares owned by the government. In other words the
greater part of the fee will be carried by the government and
therefore the public. The way the big fee was obtained is
considered by banking experts, members of the House of
Representatives and other people who love this country, as an act
of engineering and as a cruel violation of the property rights of
the people who are suffering due to this grueling debt burden.

Does the DPA chairman not understand this? The chairman of a
government institution should give wise counsel -- "supreme" in
nature -- and not heat up a situation and always side with the
people's interest so he can keep the President away from actions
which are contrary to the people's wishes. Ironically he has made
a statement to justify the "plunder" of the people's money
(though packaged in a cession deal that will eventually show its
rotten nature). We can imagine how bigoted, vain and narrow-
minded his moral attitude and way of thinking are. This
characteristic has already been seen in many news reports both on
the accusation of conspiracy addressed to Ali Sadikin and the
distribution of money just before the election campaigns.

In order not to prejudice President Habibie's position due to
Baramuli's statements purporting that "Habibie can do no wrong"
-- and this is often contrary to the norms of justice and the
people's will -- I hereby urge the House to immediately take
steps to replace Baramuli with a statesman who really is on the
side of the people and capable of making statements that reflect
peace and love. There must be justice and transparency.

WISDARMANTO

Jakarta