It is about time The Jakarta Post jazzed up its presentation. I suggest you have a good peruse of your counterpart in Thailand, The Bangkok Post. It is tabloid size and full of lots and lots of paid advertisements including classifieds. Editorially, The Jakarta Post needs a "consumer complaints" page. You publish many letters from readers about poor service in government and commercial entities, tourist complaints and etc. MIKE HUNTER

Bandung

Congratulations to The Jakarta Post on your "change", that suits me fine, keep changing for the better.

KOMANG SAPUTRA

I like Post's new look: easier to read and to hold. However, the blank half inner front cover and full inner back cover are a total waste! Couldn't you have put those to better use, e.g. for advertisements or something? No good start for a real change by wasting so much space/paper!

V.T. HOPKINS

Jakarta

Congratulations on your change. I'm so happy as a reader. But please be more precise when reporting on location. On page 32 (Eros to launch album) you wrote Bandung. I think Bandung is located in West Java. Do you agree? SUPRIANTO SAYANA

Indramayu, West Java

Ship sinks -- Jan.. 12, p.1

Time and time again this type of tragedy strikes -- ferries capsize. This time it is not blamed on seaworthiness of the vessel or overcrowding but on the weather. But is that excuse good enough? Seagoing vessels should have the best weather information available to avert a tragedy such as this one. The shipping company should have been aware of the weather and cancelled the trip.

NATHAN

Another disaster has claimed so many lives because of human error! Inna lillahi wa innailaihi rojiun. May God Almighty bless the familiy of the victims with strength, patience, health. And may the victims rest in peace in the Hands of God Merciful. AGUA SATOTO

It really is so sad to face the reality of the disaster of the sinking of Teratai Prima on the morning of Jan. 11, with the fate of about 232 passengers still unknown. Apart from the incident itself, it is time for all related institutions to open their eyes to the most important issue at all: Safety at sea. Hopefully officials will not be so fast in making classical statements such as they did everything properly, or blame the weather.

Proper seamanship plays an ultimate important role on board every ship, this supported by periodical drills (fire drills, boat drills, etc) which are mandatory according to the SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea). It is not a secret that some seamen are not familiar with standard procedures; to make it worse, there is safety equipment onboard which has not been approved by SOLAS, lack of evidence (and proper inspection by the authorities) that drills have been carried out regularly and documented properly -- as proof that the safety requirements have been met -- especially for passenger ships, for which safety requirements are suppose to be the highest.

Safety of life is an issue which cannot be bargained with, whether it is sea, land or air transportation. Are we already doing everything in a proper and appropriate way, and sufficient enough? Let's pray for those whose fates are still unknown, and their loved ones who are waiting and hoping, and for those who risk their own safety to help others.

JOHN R. SIAILA

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