'Surveys won't stop corruption'

'Surveys won't stop corruption'

The capital has been voted the most corrupt city in the country,
according to a survey by Transparency International Indonesia
(TII). The Jakarta Post interviewed residents here to get their
comments on the survey's result.

Fahmi, 34, a taxi driver living with his wife and two children
in Cipayung, East Jakarta.

Reports suggesting Jakarta is the most corrupt city did not
surprise me. It was only a confirmation of what many Jakarta
residents already know. The people have long complained that they
must pay "extra fees" to government civil servants when they
require city services.

I think Bang Yos (Governor Sutiyoso) ought to be ashamed by
the report. And I hope that he will be tougher against corrupt
city officials.

One thing I'm concerned most about is corruption by traffic
cops. There are policemen who simply stop public transportation
drivers, inevitably find some minor technical problem, then
essentially force them to pay a bribe.

Therefore, I am also not surprised that the police department
is considered the second most corrupt institution.

I'm actually pessimistic that such a survey will stop or
reduce corruption, because it all boils down to the fact that
these corrupt people have no shame.

Santi, 20, works as a janitor at the House of Representatives
building in Senayan, West Jakarta. She is a high school graduate,
who lives with her parents in Cipulir, West Jakarta.

Well, I only know a little about the issue from television
reports. I do not read the papers.

I've heard that many corrupt officials have not been punished.
Because of that, they will continue their corrupt ways.

Pak SBY (President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono) has promised that
he would punish corrupt officials. I hope he will fulfill that
promise.

I have several experiences of paying bribes, for example, when
I last renewed my identity card and when I had to get my yellow
work card (work eligibility form issued by the district manpower
office). But I forget the exact amount of those bribes.

--The Jakarta Post