Surjadi launches national ID cards after week's delay
Surjadi launches national ID cards after week's delay
JAKARTA (JP): Governor Surjadi Soedirdja officially launched yesterday the implementation of the new ID cards system in five subdistricts in Central Jakarta after a week's delay.
He urged his subordinates to use the trial period to identify problems of the new system.
Surjadi said the problems must be identified before implementing the system in all subdistricts in Jakarta.
The administration can draw up a program to overcome the problems to facilitate the system when it is implemented widely in the remaining 260 subdistricts, he said.
"Basically, the period should be used to identify the weaknesses of the national ID cards system because the system should be better than the old one," he said.
Residents will only consider the service in getting the cards, Surjadi added.
Surjadi launched the national ID cards system yesterday at the Menteng and Gondangdia subdistrict offices, a day after the city council approved the new provincial decree on population, where he personally handed several residents their new ID cards as well as received his own.
He said that the trial period is indefinite and will continue until the new system reaches the ideal framework.
Surjadi also asked his subordinates to review the legality of the new ID cards in cashing money orders because the photographs and signatures of the holders are on the cards.
"Check the acceptance because if it cannot be used to cash money orders we have to think of making another kind of identity document," he said.
The city administration has decided to implement the new system in Gondangdia, Menteng, Kebon Sirih, Cikini and Pegangsaan subdistricts.
Yesterday's launching ended long negotiations to reach an agreement between the Jakarta administration and the home affairs ministry.
The agreement stipulates that the city administration can buy equipment and forms from PT Solusindo Mitra Sejati, a consultant initially appointed by the ministry to manage the identity cards nationwide, rather than signing a build, operate and transfer contract with the company.
The city administration rejected such a contract because it has all the necessary equipment and its population system has already been computerized.
The administration has also succeeded in keeping the fee for a new ID card at Rp 1,000 (US 46 cents), lower than the ministry's proposed Rp 3,000.
The new ID card has a national population number which is valid throughout Indonesia and will not be changed when a person moves to another city.(yns)