Taxes, fees choke Jakarta residents
JAKARTA (JP): Nothing comes free living in the city, especially now when the city administration has increased many taxes while at the same time private institutions and thugs exhort their own fees from Jakarta residents.
People taking water from their own wells have now to pay a lot higher tax as the city administration plans to increase artesian well tax five-fold from Rp 2,500 (about 20 U.S. cents) to Rp 12,500 a year.
But that's cheap compared with the fee imposed by most public toilet operators in Jakarta, that charge customers Rp 300 to Rp 500 per person per visit.
And those using private cars should prepares small change to pay "service fees" to youths at crossroads helping to manage the traffic flow. Refusing to pay, would mean running the risk of having your car scratched.
Car owners are probably not only annoyed with the youths, but now also mad with the city administration which last month decided to increase car registration fees and also change of ownership tax by up to 22.4 percent.
In real terms though, car owners will pay a lot more for their car registration fees -- an increase of up to 100 percent.
Taxes for Jakartans do not stop there. People are still targeted elsewhere, especially in restaurants. People going to a relatively good restaurant, including fast food restaurants, will have to pay taxes to the city administration.
Most people would not be aware of this kind of tax, though, as it is added on to their bills.
Jakarta residents pay taxes and fees in their houses, streets, restaurants, bus terminals, hotels and even in public toilets.
But it seemed there has been no significant protest from Jakartans. Life goes on as usual. People still pay their taxes despite a campaign from a coalition of non-governmental organizations to boycott the payment of Jakarta taxes.
The chairman of the Jakarta Residents Forum (Fakta), Azas Tigor Nainggolan, said Jakartans have actually protested about some of those taxes through various means, including through letters to the newspapers.
"We can see people's protests about tax increases in the newspapers," Azas told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.
He suggested people not just complain in the newspapers, but also organize themselves to demonstrate their dissatisfaction, including by conducting rallies at the City Hall or at the city council.
Meanwhile, chairwoman of the Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI), Indah Suksmaningsih called on Jakartans not to pay the taxes as the usage of the funds gained from the taxes was still unclear.
"People should unite not to pay taxes until it is all clear," Indah said. (jun)