'Middlemen in cahoots with corrupt officials'

The city police plans to decentralize services of issuing and renewing driver's licenses from the Daan Mogot office in West Jakarta to the police precincts in Greater Jakarta. The Jakarta Post talked to several people about the plan.

Henky, 25, a sales executive of a private company in Jakarta. He lives in Jelambar, West Jakarta, with his family:

Personally, I agree with the idea of decentralizing the renewal of driver's license to the police precincts. It will save time and transportation cost.

It would run well, provided that the police minimizes the procedures and improve their mentality.

Otherwise, the new system will not make any betterment in the sense that it will not discourage middlemen and corrupt officials.

Many middlemen operate because of the complicated bureaucracy that should be followed by the public.

The officials weaken the system by creating longer procedures for issuing and renewing driver's license.

We know that most city residents don't want to wait in a long queue. So, they take a short cut by paying more to the middlemen for express services.

Joko Sukarsono, 49, a taxi driver since 1995. He is from Yogyakarta and currently resides in Kemanggisan, West Jakarta, with his wife and four children:

I agree with the plan to extend the service of issuing and renewing driver's license at every police precinct here.

It is more practical as it would save time.

The service given by the city police so far has burdened the public due to the long and complicated procedures. The renewal and extension fees of drivers' licenses are also expensive.

It is worse, if we follow the rules of the game, we will fail the test. It's weird, isn't it? Then the middlemen come and offer us their help so we can get our licenses faster.

I can understand that the middlemen work hand-in-hand with the corrupt officials who get a low salary.

I just hope that the decentralized service in the police precincts will be quick and practical. But if the new system cannot provide such a service, there will still be many middlemen and corrupt officials.

Amin, 39, an ojek (motor cycle taxi) driver who resides in Palmerah, West Jakarta, with his wife and two children:

I'm happy to know about the extended service. I'm sure it will be more effective and efficient for the public.

In the first few months, the middlemen and corrupt officials may not operate, but I'm not sure about that later.

I just hope the police precinct will do good for the public by simplifying the bureaucracy.

Cepy, 50, a personal guard for a member of the People's Consultative Assembly. He lives in West Jakarta with his wife and two children:

As long as the process is faster and fair, I would agree with the decentralization of driver's license services.

If the applicant passes the test, give them the driver's license, and on the other hand, those who fail should retake the test.

We know the fact, that anyone can have a driver's license provided they pay an extra fee. The police make the system of issuing a license complicated, in a bid to create lucrative side- jobs for them to earn an extra income.

In short, I can say that the idea is commendable as long as there is no more middlemen and corrupt police officials involved in the process.

-- Leo Wahyudi S