RI post office's image
RI post office's image
From Media Indonesia
On Nov. 26, I collected a package from the post office at Jl. Pemuda No.79 Rawamangun, East Jakarta. The package contained my books, which I had sent from Adelaide, Australia on Oct. 25. At that time I considered surface mail the best way to send the books to Jakarta as it was impossible for me to take the books on my flight, given the limited baggage allowance.
How disappointed and sad I was to see that the package was ruined. All the books were wet and some had even been replaced by seven Indonesian comics. I took the ruined cardboard and unimportant books back to the package division on Jl. Pemuda.
I filed a complaint about the condition of my package and about the missing books. A female officer received my complaint. She asked me to make a statement about this matter. But, what difference will it make? The package I received will remain damaged and similar cases continue to occur. Meanwhile, I am awaiting another package and have no idea what condition it will be in.
I told the female officer that the Australian post office did not want to provide insurance on the package I sent to Indonesia. However, the same post office was willing to provide cover for a package dispatched to the U.S. The stated reason was that the Indonesian post office had been notorious for confusing things and for items frequently going missing.
I expressed my anger and the same officer even blamed the Customs and Excise Office for breaking open my package. Again, I was asked to make a complaint to that office. The post office employee said that this incident was the first complaint she had ever received. Yet, I couldn't quite believe it as my family and friends have also had similar experiences. They have, for example, lost clothes, shoes and even a certificate for a Master of Arts degree sent from America and Japan.
How could this happen? Will such a disappointing service be allowed to continue? If it does, the bad image of the Indonesian postal company (PT Pos Indonesia) in the eyes of other countries' postal services will remain as it is.
MAHDA S SYAHDU
Jakarta