Post-holiday discipline<\/p>\n
Indonesians love a holiday. Idul Fitri is the perennial
\nfavorite of Moslems, and the holiday seems to be getting longer
\nevery year.<\/p>\n
The government decided long ago to declare a two-day holiday
\nat the end of the fasting month, the longest holiday in
\nIndonesia. But many people, especially those who return to their
\nvillages to celebrate Idul Fitri with their families, give
\nthemselves a few extra days.<\/p>\n
This includes civil servants, whose absence affects anyone in
\nneed of administrative attention. Their lack of discipline has
\nbecome an embarrassment in government offices and the authorities
\nhave yet to find a solution. Threats of punishment are routinely
\nmade, but so far they have amounted to nothing more than a
\nrepetition of the same show every year.<\/p>\n
To put an end to this, two House of Representatives members
\nare urging the government to extend the holiday from two to five
\ndays, starting two days before the first day of Idul Fitri.
\nAnyone failing to report to work after the extended holiday,
\npropose Oka Mahendra (from the Golkar faction) and Darussamin
\n(from the United Development Party faction), should face
\nconsequences.<\/p>\n
But the two legislators add that the government is partly to
\nblame for its failure to punish those with discipline problems
\nand reward its hard-working employees. The problem has gotten
\nworse since the tradition of going home for the holidays has
\nbecome something of a "mass neurosis," as one psychologist has
\nput it.<\/p>\n
Many of these travelers -- especially those who live on the
\nisland of Java -- believe they will upset their parents if they
\nare not with them for the post-fasting celebrations, when they
\nare obliged to ask forgiveness from their elders. Others simply
\nneed a break from their routine duties and the hectic pace of
\nurban life. After a brief stay in rural areas, many feel
\ncleansed, spiritually renewed and ready to start anew.<\/p>\n
It is also a time for these people to show their families that
\nthey have done well for themselves in Jakarta, where many have
\ncome in search of opportunity and to escape their impoverished
\nhometowns.<\/p>\n
Some sociologists feel that the urban exodus, known as mudik,
\nis irrational and should be stopped. But surely they are thinking
\nthe unthinkable. Mudik for most people is a must, despite the
\nhardships they endure, from inadequate means of transportation to
\npoor facilities and infrastructure. Understanding this mentality,
\nthe authorities have never discouraged people from joining the
\nexodus. In fact, government attempts to overcome the transport
\nproblem have actually spurred more people to go home for Idul
\nFitri.<\/p>\n
The proposal deserves serious consideration. The government
\nwould only have to guarantee that public services and facilities
\nnot be disturbed during the five-day break. It would also have to
\ntake action against any civil servant who fails to make it back
\nto work on time. Without this basic dose of discipline, how will
\nwe ever become a modern society?<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/post-holiday-discipline-1447893297",
"image": ""
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