Hoodlums told to find a better profession<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso said on Tuesday that hoodlums
\nshould find better professions and stop harassing city residents.<\/p>\n
\"Those of you who consider yourselves hoodlums, please change
\nyour profession to something which is legitimate,\" Sutiyoso said
\nat City Hall.<\/p>\n
\"The city administration will do its best to create more job
\nopportunities for all jobless city residents. There should be no
\nplace for hoodlums in Jakarta.\"<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso was speaking in reference to an averted street brawl
\nbetween two gangs on Sunday at Tanah Abang traditional market in
\nCentral Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Sparked by escalating competition between the groups, dozens
\nof local market hoodlums armed with machetes and iron rods were
\nready to have a showdown with a rival Madurese gang.<\/p>\n
The Madurese were also preparing sharp weapons, when the
\narrival of dozens of security officers put a stop to the
\npossibility of a brawl breaking out.<\/p>\n
Eddy, a trader at the site, said members of the Madurese gang
\nhad been taking money for years from unregistered street vendors
\nsurrounding the Tanah Abang Market, and had never shared any of
\nthe money with the local hoodlums.<\/p>\n
Unregistered street vendors, whose number is estimated at
\n20,000 in the capital, have repeatedly complained that city
\nadministration officials often threaten their lives when
\ndemanding payoffs.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, driver Rachman, a former preman (hoodlum), said
\nSutiyoso did not know what he was talking about.<\/p>\n
\"Nobody aspires to be a preman... when we are hungry, we will
\ndo anything,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Rachman added that former governor Ali Sadikin would never
\nhave tolerated hoodlums.<\/p>\n
\"One day, my friends, most of them scalpers like me, were
\nrounded up by Bang Ali himself. He slapped some of us and then
\nrounded us up,\" Rachman said.<\/p>\n
\"He asked us what we were and we were so afraid of him, we
\ntold him the truth. He liked our honesty. He gave us jobs...
\nfrom cleaning boys to street parking attendants. I'll never
\nforget him.\" (ylt\/asa)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/hoodlums-told-to-find-a-better-profession-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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