Telkom's rates

Telkom's rates

From Koran Tempo

The government has proposed an increase of 24 percent in electricity rates and 33.33 percent in local telephone rates in 2003. Reportedly, PT Telkom recorded a profit of Rp 7.57 trillion in the first, second and three quarters of this year, an increase of 107.76 percent over the figure registered in the same period in 2001. As for electricity company PLN, irregularities have been allegedly identified.

In the case of the local telephone rates, PT Telkom may have a sound argument but even for an ignoramus it is hard to understand why the rates have to be raised when the profits have multiplied. This is daylight robbery.

The fact that Telkom's president director announced the increase in local telephone rates although the House of Representatives has not yet given its approval is evidence of how Telkom treats its customers arbitrarily.

DEHEN BINTI, Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan