Ardi Mandiri – Less than a week after President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono banned the use of subsidized fuel for government vehicles, public officials in Depok announced plans to change vehicle license plates from government vehicle red to private vehicle black.

Public officials in Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi have been barred from using subsidized fuel for government vehicles since June 1. But in the days following the announcement, numerous public officials have been caught fueling up with subsidized fuel thanks to the cars' tell-tale red license plates.

Now public employees in Depok want to switch to the standard black license plates. Wijayanto, General Affairs head of Depok, denied the license plates were changed to circumvent the new regulation.

"The purpose is not to deceive the fuel station officer when filling up," Wijayanto said, "but for the security of public officials when they are carrying out their duties."

Cars used by Depok regional secretary Etty Suryahati, public administration assistant Sayid Cholid and Youth, Sport, Tourism, Art and Cultural agency head of Depok Asep Roswana have been seen around town with dark-blue acrylic covering the red license plates.

The driver of one of these cars denied that the acrylic was used to purchase subsidized fuel. "I don't know why we're using a black plate," said the driver, who declined to be named. "But the [the car] always use Pertamax [non-subsidized fuel]."

Non-subsidized fuel costs, on average, twice as much as subsidized fuel.