No one wants complicated bureaucracy to continue

JAKARTA (JP): As the expiry dates of our personal documents, like identity cards (IDs), draw near, we are filled with dread. Expatriates come away with a hell-like impression of the country when dealing directly with government officials. Wiser locals leave it to the specialists.

Five residents currently based in Jakarta share their views:

Guruh Soekarnoputra, well-known choreographer and owner of an entertainment company: The government should find a better system for processing identity cards or driver's licenses. If necessary, it could make a comparative study with systems in other countries.

People want to deal with uncomplicated administrative procedures that are cheap and don't take up a lot of time. It would be much better if it was enough for people to have either an identity card or a driver's license (instead of both), their function is the same anyway.

But readiness to streamline such procedures depends on the government, especially the officials' mentality. Are they willing to lose their main source of income? It's no longer a secret that administrative procedures are used to gain personal profit. It seems like they forget their duty as public servants.

Panangian Simanungkalit, property analyst: I do not apply for my own identity card or driver's license because for me, it is time consuming and I do not have much time for it.

It's also psychological: the slow service and officials' attitude make me reluctant to do it on my own. So I'd rather pay more to let others help me get my identity card or driver's license than having to suffer.

Suggestions to streamline procedures are appreciated but it's a dream. The government tends to pay more attention to political and economic issues, improving public services would be last on their priority list.

Now, people are so used to bribery practices it's become a culture ... that's even more difficult to change.

Don Kardimas, an employee of privately run Bank Danamon:

I was helped by a broker at the police headquarters to obtain my driver's license several months ago. It cost me only Rp 150,000.

I preferred paying three times the official rate of Rp 52,000 than wait for hours for officials to process the documents.

Though I still took a written examination, it was just a formality.

If I had applied for the driver's license myself and followed all the procedures, I would never have got my license. I have heard that officials have created such a system that no one is able to pass the exams, so that all applicants use the service of scalpers.

But the bottom line is that getting licenses through brokers, no matter how ridiculous and dirty it is, is still mutually beneficial for me and the broker.

It is as simple as this: The broker's business runs well and I can get my driver's license quickly.

Osvaldo Coelho, a Brazilian expatriate: I think it is difficult to reform Indonesian bureaucracy. The red tape will remain for a long time despite the campaign currently launched to reform all aspects of life.

Foreigners are always an easy target for the red tape because, unlike locals, they lack the knowledge to deal with officials.

Two years ago, I tried to apply, by myself, for the birth certificate of my now two-year-old daughter. I had to go from desk to desk and spend US$500 in total to obtain the birth certificate.

The government should issue a booklet in English on tips to apply for the Non-Permanent Resident Card (KIMS). The only available booklet is in Bahasa. You know that not many of us understand the language.

An American expatriate, working for a consultancy firm: I have been dealing with the people in Indonesia's bureaucracy for three years due to my job as a consultant for several governmental projects, including privatization and village development projects.

Bureaucracy is bad, even in the United States. But, I think Indonesia has one of the world's worst bureaucracies. Asian countries in general have big problems with their bureaucracies. I think the worst bureaucracy is in India.

The current reform campaigns launched by Indonesian people might change politics and the economy in a relatively short time, but bureaucracy takes a long time to change.

If I return to this country in five years, I will probably see a more democratic country but the bureaucracy might remain the same.

If the bureaucracy is going to change, the National Development Planning Board has the opportunity to change itself more quickly than other ministries, including the Ministry of Forestry and Ministry of Home Affairs, thanks to its officials' high levels of education. I am impressed that the board's officials, even the lower ranking ones, are very well educated. (team)