Immigration Office Brokers & Agents
Jan 29th, 2009, in News, by Patung
Perceptions of corruption at government departments, and the use of brokers at immigration offices.
The latest edition of the Transparency International Indonesia (TII) perceptions of corruption survey put the Immigration office as the third most bribed institution in Indonesia, with a third of those surveyed claiming they had paid bribes there. tii
The full list, percentage figures refer to whether respondents claimed to have paid a bribe:
- Police – 48%
- Customs and Excise – 41%
- Immigration Office – 34%
- Traffic & Roads Authority (DLLAJR) – 33%
- City Government – 33%
- Land Department – 32%
- Port Authority (Pelindo) – 30%
- Courts – 30%
- Justice & Human Rights Department – 21%
- Airport Authority (Angkasa Pura) – 21%
- Regional tax offices – 17%
- Health Department (Depkes) – 15%
- National tax offices – 14%
- Food & Drug Department (BPOM) – 14%
- Mullah Council (Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI)) – 10%
See last year’s list, which was in a different format – Bribery.
Minister for Justice Andi Mattalatta in response to the report asked people to not use the services of informal immigration agents when dealing with Immigration offices around the country, like when applying for a passport.
Just come by yourself.
Mattalatta complained that these days people took a “lordly” approach, presumably not wanting to stand in line and wait their turn, but wanted things done fast. The problem with this, he said, was that: vivanews
The official fee is 200,000 rupiah, but you have to pay a broker 1 million.
He added that it was difficult for the authorities to identify brokers and agents operating at immigration offices, while Basyir Barmawi, an immigration official, said his officers did not have the right to refuse serving those who used brokers to arrange their documents. antara
20 Comments on “Immigration Office Brokers & Agents”
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Burung Koel says:
Only 48% of interactions with the police involve bribery? That’s impressive, 100% of my dealings with the rozzers involves bribery but then my pink complexion might explain that.
I have had the opposite experience, Berlian Biru. After being pulled over on my motorbike, and lifting the visor, the copper’s face usually registers something like: “Uh-oh, too much paperwork.” And I get waved on.
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Pakmantri says:
Mullah Council (Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI)) – 10%
Ah, now I know why there’s never a haram fatwa for corruption! 😀
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Ross says:
Interesting points from Berlian and Burung, re the reaction of government servants to bules.
Some do make a bee-line for our wallets, but others have sussed that we tend to be stroppier than locals when faced with rank injustice.
You just have to sniff the wind and take your chances.
And of course Pakmantri is spot on, for those MUI goat-beards are almost devoid of common humanity, so why expect honesty? -
funny says:
Ross and Pak Mantri:
too true, too true………. -
Pena Budaya says:
Minister for Justice Andi Mattalatta in response to the report asked people to not use the services of informal immigration agents when dealing with Immigration offices around the country, like when applying for a passport.
Just come by yourself.
Well, I have never used “calo” when renewing my passport and I always experienced lousy things like longer procedure, impolite & ignorant immigrant officer, very,very inefficient procedure and waitings (people who paid calo were being served first than those who didn’t use calo) etc. The last experience was in Tangerang, where I thought was the worst experience I have ever had. I had to return to the immigration office three times because the locket that I have to go was closed very early (sometimes before 12 o’clock). An immigration officer told me that if I took “fast way” then I may not have to experience that.
If the government would like to reduce the corupption in immigration office, then cut that unnecessary long procedure, make it faster as it appears that is possible when people use “calo”. People use “calo” because they could not stand for that long procedure and too many lockets to go through.
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Chris says:
Mattalatta complained that these days people took a “lordly” approach, presumably not wanting to stand in line and wait their turn, but wanted things done fast.
Another alternative would be to improve service speed and delivery at the immigration office, and sack staff who demand/receive bribes… I wonder when was the last time he stood in line waiting for a passport?
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Mullah Council (Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI)) – 10%
Ah, now I know why there’s never a haram fatwa for corruption! 😀
I avoided the MUI angle on this one for a change….it seems the MUI guys were really annoyed about being on this list, it’s connected with their role as issuers of halal certification isn’t it, somebody had a good comment on that once, anyway last year the TII report if I’m not wrong just said “Religious Bodies” whereas this year they named names…..
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hary says:
Personally, I’ve used brokers for most of my transactions with Immigration, and their ilk. Its simply more convenient. I know it isn’t right, but unless and until the pen pushers get their act together, its simply not worth the time and agro to stand in line in Jakarta.
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Faddy says:
Try surviving on 2 to 3 million rupiah a month, with all the bills screaming to be paid and family to feed. And on top of that ministers and parliamentarians who are more concern with their bank accounts than the people. Rp20,000 bribe is a bonus to them. Given the choice a lot of them would be ashamed and not do it. But what choice do they have? They have leaders who have erased the word “shame” from their conscience.
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Achmad Sudarsono says:
Halo Seksi Friends !
Halo Mr. Patoengs !
Halo Mr. Faddy !
Pak Faddy — good point.
Any other Bule reading this: yes ! Waste the cops time !
It’s a business. Just waste their time, jabbering inaudible English interspersed with “embassy,” “embassy”, looking up and expecting them to understand you. Chances are, they’ll be “malu” because of their shit English, whereas you’ve been sabotaging them all along. They’ll see all the prey they’re missing whilst you blabber away. It works !
Goodbye Seksi Friends !
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Oigal says:
Actually for the average copper on the road, I really don’t have any issues taking the “easy” way as long as it’s real transgression (be honest, the real procedure is just not practical to anyone unless they have nothing to do with their time). As had been said it’s near impossible to live on the wage they are paid. Not only that the rookie cope is already over 5 million out of pocket just to sit the extrance exam.
But with the senior asswipes..you can have so much fun with them playing dumb, agreeing to meet and purposely misunderstanding their not so subtle hints. Best day so far strung out lunch over two hours (which they no doubt expected our company to pay for). Thanked them profusely for their company and having me as their guest and stuck them with the bill.
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ET says:
Pena Budaya
Well, I have never used “calo” when renewing my passport and I always experienced lousy things like longer procedure, impolite & ignorant immigrant officer, very,very inefficient procedure and waitings (people who paid calo were being served first than those who didn’t use calo) etc.
I have tried a couple of times to have my visa renewed by going myself to the immigration office and actually never succeeded because I became fed up with being played around by some some fat bully who would take every chance to compensate his racial inferiority complex by being rude and making life difficult. I use ‘calo’ now, I pay more but I never had any problem since.
berlian biru
Only 48% of interactions with the police involve bribery? That’s impressive, 100% of my dealings with the rozzers involves bribery but then my pink complexion might explain that.
Sometimes a picture speaks louder than a thousand words. Here’s one that I took from a billboard placed at Bali’s most busy intersection in Tohpati. The hypocrisy however seems to have no boundaries because 1 km from this spot I got pungli-ed yesterday.
Indonesia Raya. ROFL
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Having worked (still working) in Indonesia, I was surprised by the general acceptance of corruption as a way of life in the country. Corruption has embedded itself in the country’s culture. I was told that the definition of corruption, “..when public officials takes public funds. But if public officials take gifts (cars, house, etc) or money from private individuals or organisations to facilitate business or influence legal /judicial process , this is not corruption but provision of services.” And this is not HARAM in Islam.
Until the people decide that enough is enough and feel ashame, corruption will continue to be the first thing that comes to foreigners’ mind they think of Indonesia. INDONESIANS! YOU HAVE A BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY AND RICH WITH NATURAL RESOURCES. YOUR COUNTRY’S REPUTATION IS CRAP AROUND THE WORLD. AREN’T YOU ASHAME?
Its bad enough that the leaders don’t care but the people to?????????????
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Lairedion says:
ET said:
Sometimes a picture speaks louder than a thousand words. Here’s one that I took from a billboard placed at Bali’s most busy intersection in Tohpati. The hypocrisy however seems to have no boundaries because 1 km from this spot I got pungli-ed yesterday.
Well, the picture says “Kami memang belum sempurna tetapi kami selalu berusaha”.
This very sentence has hypocrisy all over it because in Indonesia actually it means “mohon maaf lahir dan batin” but don’t be afraid, we’ll screw you again.
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MUI and Tax Officers are on the relatively same level??
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Lairedion
This very sentence has hypocrisy all over it because in Indonesia actually it means “mohon maaf lahir dan batin” but don’t be afraid, we’ll screw you again.
What’s even more hypocritical is the small inscription on the billboard – less readable in the picture because its size – which says: Yang memberi & yang menerima suap sama-sama melanggar hukum (Those who give and accept bribes are both breaking the law). They can’t even refrain from inducing guilt on those who become the victims of their extortions.
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Lairedion
This very sentence has hypocrisy all over it because in Indonesia actually it means “mohon maaf lahir dan batin” but don’t be afraid, we’ll screw you again.
Well, the majority being Hindu’s here don’t use to say “mohon maaf lahir dan batin” but given a chance they will screw you anyway.
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Berlian Biru says:
“I really don’t have any issues taking the “easy” way as long as it’s real transgression”
Actually in fairness I should point out that almost all of the times I have paid a bribe it has been for a legitimate traffic offence when it was simply easier to hand over the cash with a polite smile. I enjoy when the cop then salutes and helps ease you back into the traffic with a friendly “mind how you go sir”.
Ah, policing the old Dixon of Dock Green way, hard to beat. Of course that might be due to the fact that I have probably over tipped him, the blokes in the bigger road bikes seem to want more than the guys in the scrambler types I find.
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Robert says:
To: Team Airport Ngrurah Rai Bali.
We accepted many complainer included me regarding VOA (Visa On Arrival) passengers headed to another long line in airport Ngurah Rai Bali. our guest said, to slow services, many people to enter but only a few people of emigration on their table. it look many emigration table empty.
Also the minimum arrival visiting visa they pay 25 US$ even only 3 days stay.
We need your help to up great the services in here, due we promote a lot this country but the services we respect not International standard.
Bali emigration person may not do their correct work during my attention due we are traveling to Bali many time in year, we found same those people and do not do correct work. if you need it and wish to repair all services in Bali International Airport specially the most bad is emigration secion, now in global period easy, just put a few camera control, it make easier and cheap way to control who not do the correct work. http://www.indonesiamatters.com/3804/immigration-office/Trimakasih attention
Robert, spain
Comment on “Immigration Office Brokers & Agents”.
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Only 48% of interactions with the police involve bribery? That’s impressive, 100% of my dealings with the rozzers involves bribery but then my pink complexion might explain that.
As regards identifying the immigration agents it’s actually rather simple, look around the lobby of the immigration office, see the blokes who used to work there but have now since retired? The ones carrying multiple foreign passports? Yes, that’s them.