Low pay behind illegal levies

Low pay behind illegal levies

JAKARTA (JP): The low salaries of traffic police officers and
other officials in charge of traffic have motivated the demanding
of bribes from drivers, an official says.

The head of the Transportation Ministry Office, Abdul Karim
Tjokroprawiro, said that increasing their salaries would be the
best way to eliminate bribery cases.

He said his office is preparing a proposal on the salary
increase to the government.

Traffic police officers and officials of the city land
transportation control agency have been under fire for asking
money from drivers of buses and taxis.

Karim said he believed that the main reason for the officers
to collect money from the drivers is the officers low salaries.

"In my personal opinion that's what makes them behave like
this. It is impossible to overcome illegal levies or expect them
to obey the regulations if we do not change their economic
condition," he said.

Karim was commenting on the accusation aired by the land
transportation association, Organda, which said that various
permits meant higher costs for the transportation companies.

"I don't think the permits cause high cost to the company. And
all payment for the permits are legal," Karim said.

He said that the existing regulations are perfect but their
enforcement was weak.

Therefore, the government should improve the condition by
increasing the officers' salaries or giving, for instance, 75
percent of the fine to the officers as an incentive.

Karim said the government will only give selected officers the
authority to fine traffic violators and to give drivers the right
to defend themselves.

"This is important because the drivers' right to defend
themselves is neglected and sometimes they are labeled as
confrontational when they use their rights," he said. (yns)