'Official privileges an insult to justice'

'Official privileges an insult to justice'

The scorching heat, the traffic congestion, the speeding
motorcades of state officials -- all get in the way of an average
Jakartan's day. While the law says road-users must give priority
to official motorcades, some residents The Jakarta Post spoke
with were not happy with the rule.

Dani, 31, works for a publishing company based in Central
Jakarta. She lives in Kalibata, South Jakarta, with her family:

Important state officials have been given more than enough
privileges from the government such as huge salaries, a variety
of allowances -- housing and numerous others -- and many other
things ordinary citizens cannot get.

With such luxuries, they should not plunder facilities
intended to help average and underprivileged citizens. It's just
not right and an insult to our sense of justice. They should be
given equal treatment under the law.

Setiawan Musa, 41, is an employee of a private company in
Pluit, North Jakarta. He lives in Mampang, South Jakarta:

I agree that VVIPs (very very important persons), particularly
presidents and vice presidents, should be given special treatment
on the road.

I don't mind that Vice President Hamzah Haz doesn't have to
stop at traffic lights. This kind of special treatment is needed
because their affairs are generally more important than ours.

But I do not accept that VVIPs should take busway lanes --
like what happened with Hamzah's motorcade. Busway lanes should
be used only by the special busway buses.

The lanes should be treated like railways, which are only for
trains. In this case Hamzah made a mistake -- he was a bad
example to motorists. But I respect him for finally offering to
apologize.

-- The Jakarta Post