'Middlemen in cahoots with corrupt officials'

'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