'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