Prices rise, life gets harder for Jakartans<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): With the price hikes in fuel, electricity,
\ntelephone rates and staple foods, residents find living in the
\ncity increasingly difficult, and most have yet to find any relief
\nfrom the economic crisis.<\/p>\n
The staggering level of unemployment has raised concerns about
\ncrime, while job vacancies have grown scant due to the economic
\nslowdown.<\/p>\n
The government will announce the fuel price next week, while
\nelectricity rates, as well as telephone rates, have already
\nexperienced a 15 percent increase.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, people in Jakarta have remained resilient, as
\nsome resort to the mind-set that life in the big city will never
\nbe easy.<\/p>\n
They, however, wish that there was something the government
\ncould do to forebear, if not lessen, the burden on their
\nshoulders, as things are already difficult as they are, without
\nthe latest set of price increases.<\/p>\n
\"I'm aware of the consequences of living in a city like
\nJakarta. The living costs are inevitably more expensive than in
\nsmaller towns. But it appears to me that the government is not
\neven trying to make the lives of the general public any easier,\"
\nsaid Arifin, a private company employee.<\/p>\n
On Saturday, he was accompanying his wife to buy rice and
\nother food at Mayestic market in South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"The fuel price hike, like in the past, is a trigger for other
\nprice increases, while our income remains stagnant,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Even before the fuel price hike is formally announced, the
\nprice of rice has risen by about 12 percent, as well as cooking
\noil and sugar.<\/p>\n
Vendors predict more price hikes on staple foods, when the
\ngovernment officiates the rate increase.<\/p>\n
\"If suppliers increase their prices, I will have to follow
\nsuit. But even now, my customers are complaining to me about the
\nprice of rice as if it was my fault that rice is expensive these
\ndays,\" said Ramini, who runs a foodstall at the market.<\/p>\n
\"For the past few days, I have had housewives expressing their
\nanger to me after they have learned about the new prices and some
\nhave even left my store without purchasing anything,\" she said,
\nadding that some of her customers had begun to purchase less.<\/p>\n
\"I suppose in this condition, people are more careful with
\ntheir spending. But, because people always need rice, they will
\nstill buy it despite the price.\" she assessed.<\/p>\n
A snack vendor at Senen market, Central Jakarta, is now
\nskeptical about whether people will still be buying snacks. He
\nraised the price of snacks from Rp 100 to Rp 150, with a possible
\nraise in the near future.<\/p>\n
\"If I don't increase the price, I won't make any profit.
\nMeanwhile, the price of the ingredients has risen,\" said Sabil
\nHassanudin who came from Aceh six months ago to try his luck in
\nthe city.<\/p>\n
\"If things get worse, I will probably consider returning to
\nAceh,\" Sabil said.<\/p>\n
\"Living in Jakarta is expensive. I think people who come to
\nlive in this city bear that in mind. Those who can't handle the
\npressure are better off in their hometowns,\" reasoned Ramini, the
\nfoodstall owner.<\/p>\n
\"But then, the fuel and electricity price hikes have been
\nimposed nationwide... so it's the same everywhere,\" she added,
\nrealizing that there is nowhere to go in this country to evade
\nthe situation.<\/p>\n
Polin, a school teacher in Pamulang, Tangerang, decried the
\nincreasing prices, saying the government should take the
\nnecessary measures to ease the heavy costs carried by the public.<\/p>\n
\"Look, we've been troubled by the worsening security condition
\nand political instability. And now this, the price increase. Why
\nhave they done this? Is it their job just to trouble us?,\" he
\nasserted.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/prices-rise-life-gets-harder-for-jakartans-1447893297",
"image": ""
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