YLKI picks holes in government's plan to hike passport fee

YLKI picks holes in government's plan to hike passport fee

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI)
denounced on Monday the government's plan to raise passport
processing fees later this month.

New YLKI chairwoman Indah Suksmaningsih said the government's
decision lacked transparency and obstructed the public's right to
know the reasons behind the increase.

"We never know how much money is needed to issue a passport,"
Indah said after being installed as the non-governmental
organization's leader to replace Tini Hadad.

The hike will range from 75 percent to 400 percent, setting
expenditures at between Rp 75,000 and Rp 650,000 (from US$11.20
to $97).

The immigration directorate general announced a varied
passport fee hike on June 3, but delayed it the following day due
to widespread criticism. Many said the increase was untimely
because Indonesia was still experiencing an economic crisis.

The increase was attributed to the soaring cost of paper.

"The government has always laid the burden on the public.
Before asking for the increase, the government should prove it's
already efficient in processing the passport."

Indah said problems in processing the passport lay with the
government, which were highlighted in a recently reported
scandal.

"How come the foreign affairs ministry and industry and trade
ministry were unaware of passport misuse?" she said.

Gatra newsweekly reported in its latest edition that 300
illegal Indonesian workers in the United States were using blue
passports, documents designated for state officials, from the two
ministries.

Former YLKI chairwoman Tini concurred that transparency was
essential.

"We could understand the hike if we are made aware of the
reasons. The government should announce a detailed explanation of
the costs needed to issue a passport," she said.

Indonesian public services costs are the lowest of Southeast
Asian countries, but Tini said it should not be the main
justification for a hike.

"We cannot simplify it. We have to compare income per capita
of the countries before concluding that public service expenses
in a certain country are cheap or costly," said Tini.

The issuance of passports is among the problems faced by
Indonesian migrant workers, particularly housemaids. There are
widespread reports of workers having their wages cut to pay for
immigration expenses. (05)