M

em>May 8, online

Jakarta Deputy Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, better known as Ahok, has blasted the Home Ministry for not allowing holders of electronic identification cards (e-ID) to photocopy them.

'€œWhy did we have to spend billions of rupiah on the project, then?'€ asked Ahok as quoted by kompas.com.

Ahok said that he was one of the early critics of the program, saying that it was a waste of taxpayers'€™ money.

On Monday, Home Minister Gamawan Fauzi issued a circular, warning e-ID holders against photocopying the card or exposing it to heat-emitting devices as this could damage the chip embedded in the card.

Your comments:

An independent and reliable audit to determine how and where the money is spent as well to whom the money is channeled will show why billions of rupiah had to be invested in the project.

It is just another scam for redistributing tax money.

Jorith Arbier

Last week, I received my e-ID from the local neighborhood head, who requested my '€œold one'€ back as it had to be delivered to the village office.

Then yesterday, I heard the news that last Monday, Home Minister Gamawan Fauzi had issued a circular, warning e-ID holders against photocopying the card or exposing it to heat-emitting devices as this could damage the chip embedded in the card.

Now this is a pretty kettle of fish, isn'€™t it? Imagine the consternation of those of us who have already copied their E-card for business reasons (perhaps several times!) and damaged it in the process.

Just think of the stress and frustration that millions of owners of the new e-ID cards have to endure; not to mention the costs of medication for high blood pressure and heart attacks that they will surely suffer as a result of this stress.

I also read in a very trustworthy Indonesian daily that Rika, a lady from Yogyakarta, tried to open a new bank account in Tangerang to buy a vehicle, but was refused, as her new e-ID was not accepted although, according to the government regulation, it should be accepted across the country.

After hearing the dismal news, I tried to get my old ID card back,
but failed. Luckily, I still have one copy of my old ID, which I will now photocopy several times, to use in the future.

I am but one of the 90 million or so citizens who have effectively been victimized by the sheer incompetence and stupidity of the Home Ministry, which only concentrated on results and targets and didn'€™t take into consideration the limited application of the e-ID card '€” and wasted Rp 5.8 trillion (US$595.8 million) of the people'€™s money in the process.

Tami Koestomo
Bogor

So, what happens when a government office requires copies of the ID? The immigration office, in my case. I am forever providing them with copies of my wife'€™s ID card.

Bruce Canardly