Team against illegal fees

Team against illegal fees

From Kompas

The report in Kompas (July 13) on the planned establishment of a team for the eradication of illegal fees was heartening. At first glance this seems to be a follow-up to the successful drive by the government's anticorruption team.

Sadly, however, the team against illegal fees initiated by the minister of communications is only meant to deal with corrupt personnel at seaports.

In my view, the team of officials from the Attorney General's Office, the Indonesian Military, the National Police and relevant ministries should also fight such fees outside seaports.

Illegal fees can be imposed on the road as we are driving, also when we process identity cards, driver's licenses, passports, construction permits and even death certificates.

Likewise, this team should not only be formed at the central government level, but also in provincial administrations so that regencies/cities, districts and subdistricts can be covered. Similar teams should work in each of our diplomatic missions abroad.

Once a month, the government should publicly announce the most successful team in the fight against illegal fees. Meanwhile, civil servants found charging illegal fees should be subject to the same penalties as embezzlers.

A. FINALDO MOECHTAR Depok, West Java