Low income earners regret fuel price hike
Low income earners regret fuel price hike
JAKARTA (JP): Many Jakartans, especially from the low income
bracket, regret the government's decision to raise fuel prices
starting next Friday, saying that the decision has been made too
hastily.
Public transportation drivers told The Jakarta Post on
Saturday and Sunday that any increase in fuel prices would
increase the burden on their already hard lives, and they called
on the government to find ways to reduce their burden.
They said they would not stage protests of their own or resort
to violence in responding to the government's decision to raise
fuel prices.
Nevertheless, the Indonesian Consumer Foundation expressed its
worry on Sunday that social unrest would most likely follow the
fuel price hike.
Dahuri, a Kosti Jaya taxi driver, said that he was very
surprised by the decision.
"I mean, in less than a year, the government has raised fuel
prices twice. It's crazy," he told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.
"Electricity rates are also going to rise. And I bet other
prices will follow. This country's really going down the drain,"
Dahuri said.
Dani, driver of an M09 public minivan plying the Kebon Jeruk-
Tanah Abang route, voiced a similar reaction to Dahuri's.
"Prices have already increased. The government said they don't
have the money. Well, why don't they take it from corruptors?" he
said.
He added that the government might increase fuel prices and
other charges, but it should also find ways to reduce the burden
on low-income people.
"Aren't there other ways for the government to help reduce our
burden, rather than add to it?" he asked, cynically.
The House of Representatives approved last Friday the
government's proposal to increase fuel prices by an average of 30
percent.
Based on that decision, the price of gasoline will increase to
Rp 1,450 (US$0.14) per liter (currently Rp 1,150). Diesel fuel
will increase to Rp 900 (Rp 600), while the price of kerosene
will be Rp 400 (Rp 350).
The last fuel price hike occurred in October last year. The
price of gasoline before then was Rp 1,000, diesel fuel cost Rp
550, and kerosene was Rp 280.
An ojek (motorcycle taxi) driver from Jl. Bendungan Hilir,
Central Jakarta named Udin, claimed that public transportation
drivers like himself, would suffer most from the hike.
And among the public transportation drivers, ojek drivers
would be the ones who suffer the most.
"Unlike buses and minivans which have official charges, we set
our own. Therefore, we cannot just increase our charges, because
if we do, people won't hire us," he said.
But Udin, Dahuri and Dani all said that they did not know what
to do to respond to the planned fuel price increase, noting that
they had no other choice but to accept it.
They also said that they were not sure if they would join
anti-government rallies to oppose the fuel price increases.
Nevertheless, Ciptadi, a civil servant, said he was worried
that a major protest, or even a riot could occur, following the
fuel price hike.
"It's very possible that a riot could occur. I'm very worried
and really regret the hike. It's really a burden," he said at
Pejompongan gas station, Central Jakarta.
Meanwhile on Sunday, Agus Pambagyo, deputy chairman of the
Indonesian Consumers' Foundation (YLKI) said that social unrest
would most likely follow the fuel price hike.
"I understand that this is a tough situation. If the
government doesn't raise fuel prices, it faces a widening budget
deficit. But if it does raise the price, there will likely be
social unrest," he told the Post on Sunday.
Agus said that YLKI agreed with the fuel price hike but
regretted the lack of debate from the government and the House of
Representatives.
"They should have discussed first the form of subsidy,
monitoring, evaluation, and the impact if other prices also rose.
Once those matters had been properly addressed, then they could
have raised fuel prices," he said.
"It has always been like this. Every decision is made without
adequate discussion beforehand," he added. (hdn)