Private car inspection and illegal levies

Private car inspection and illegal levies

From Pos Kota

Minister of Communications Agum Gumelar said earlier this
month that the plan for private car inspections (for road
worthiness) was being studied so that gas emission tests on
private motor vehicles could not yet be conducted, while the
field personnel in charge were yet to be put in order to prevent
irregularities.

The idea of private car inspections, I am afraid, is only
meant to boost the practice of imposing illegal fees and
corruption. As reported by this paper, illegal fees on means of
public transport alone can reach Rp 14.49 billion every six
months. The sum to be derived from private cars, which are
greater in number, could thus be enormous.

Later, a TV station reported that the communications minister
would apply the gas emission test system on private motor
vehicles. If this comes true, what I have described above will
take place before long. Let's wait and see.

SUHANTO
Jakarta