Transportation fare in increase

Living in this country is getting harder and harder. The nation has yet to dig itself out of its prolonged multidimensional crises, and now a new problem has emerged. It is the government's plan to hike transportation fares, which will bring more hardship to most people.

The new transportation fare scheme was approved by the House of Representatives and will officially be announced in mid-June. This situation is a logical result of the recent fuel price hike.

Whatever the reason is, the policy on increasing fares will negatively affect most Indonesians. Their lives will become harder as the prices of goods and services will also increase. The next impact will cause the national economy to weaken again and the crisis will become protracted.

There should be a policy that can cover the national interest and ease people's suffering as well as accommodate the interests of businessmen and transportation operators.

Amid the huge burden that most people must bear, the government should help find the best solution.

Wouldn't concrete help earn the public's approval? And isn't the government in need of this approval? This attitude might be useful in the next two or three years when the government holds the 2004 general election.

-- Bisnis Indonesia, Jakarta