Police chief supports Sakra Bima's business

JAKARTA (JP): National Police Chief Gen. Banurusman Astrosemitro has thrown his weight behind a controversial move by a firm working with the city police to tie up with little-known banks.

The company, PT Sakra Bima Mandala Pratama, has entered into cooperation agreements with seven private banks to improve its services in facilitation the police's processing of vehicle registration documents.

"Any efforts intended to help the public attend to their vehicular registration documents deserves appreciation," Banurusman told a news conference at police headquarters.

He added, however, that all procedures should have a clear legal basis so as not to invite opposition from the public.

PT Sakra Bima, whose chief commissioner is tycoon Hutomo Mandala Putra, President Soeharto's third son, has expanded its service counters from only one bank to another seven banks with a total of 53 service outlets throughout the city.

In cooperation with the city police and the city administration, the company, which began the services in cooperation with city-owned Bank DKI in 1993, promises to provide "fast and comfortable" computerized service for vehicle owners who have no time or are otherwise reluctant to pay their registration fees directly to the police offices.

The expansion has drawn strong criticism from both legislators and the public alike, who are worried that the company's monopoly over registration document processing might cause the firm to go after profits while neglecting its social obligations.

Under the new scheme offered by the firm, applicants do not have to wait in long queues in stuffy joint police-city administrative offices because they can pay the administrative fee over the counter at the banks involved.

Applicants have to pay administration fees of about Rp 10,000 (US$4.50) for the processing of motorcycle registration documents and about Rp 20,000 for car registration documents, varying according to type and model, through their staff at its outlets at the appointed banks. The firm promises to complete the process within two or three days for applicants who have complete papers.

Applicants who go to the police to have their documents processed can hope to complete their business in one day but they have to jostle in the small, crowded rooms for many hours.

Brokers who openly operate at police offices ask fees which are about the same as those of PT Sakra Bima, which is planning to open 40 more outlets in and around the city by next year.

Banurusman said that other companies were welcome to open businesses similar to one run by PT Sakra Bima.

"They (interested companies) may cooperate with post offices, which exist everywhere. Why not?," he said.

When asked to comment on PT Sakra Bima's plan to further expand its business nationwide, Banurusman said the police were still studying the proposal.

"If everything turns out okay, please go ahead," the four-star general said. (bsr)