'New ID system should be simpler'

'New ID system should be simpler'

JAKARTA (JP): A former Jakarta governor, Soeprapto, said
yesterday that the planned collaboration with a private company
in processing new ID cards should not create new problem for
Jakartans.

Soeprapto, who was governor between 1982 and 1987, said that
before this collaboration starts, the form of the cooperation and
its implementation should be thoroughly studied.

"Is it effective, will it provide a quicker service, or will
it become another burden to people ? These are some of the
questions that must be answered when the administration studies
collaboration with a private company," he said.

He said the current computerized system, started in 1985, has
been working well. "We have all the equipment, and the security
of the data is guaranteed, " he said.

He said that the processing of ID cards depended on 'the man
behind the gun'.

This statement refers to the fact that the city administration
does not yet process ID cards within one day as promised.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has chosen a private company, PT
Solusindo Mitra Sejati, to process ID cards nation-wide.

As the result of this collaboration, the city administration
has proposed to change the Provincial Decree No. 5/1991 on
application of new ID cards.

The change includes the proposal to increase the fees for ID
cards from Rp 1,000 to up to Rp 3,000. It was also proposed to
raise fees for family cards, birth certificate and other kinds of
identity documents.

ID cards for foreigners will also be raised to Rp 3,000, from
Rp 2,000, and the fee for family cards for expatriates was
proposed to double from Rp 1,000 to Rp 2,000.

Governor Surjadi Soedirdja has recently promised to set a very
reasonable fee for the new ID card.

The chairman of the City Council's commission C for financial
affairs, Helmy AR Syihab, the cooperation with the private
companies should be questioned.

"The computer system has been available to the city
administration for years, and it has the manpower," Helmy said.

"The administration only needs some laser printers and 70
square-meter computing rooms in five mayoralties. So I guess the
private company will only be supplying the paper for the card
itself," Helmy said.

The city population office contributed a total of Rp 5.68
billion in revenues the from the 4.5 million residents who
applied for ID cards last year.

With the new fees the office expects to be able to contribute
Rp 11.8 billion a year in the future.

Helmy said many people have complained about the raise.

"Currently, Jakartans have to pay over Rp 10,000 to get one
card while officially the fee is Rp 1,000 per card. The city
administration must stop such practices if the fees are going to
be raised," Helmy said.

Helmy said the administration can improve the service by
instructing subdistrict offices to deliver the cards. (yns)