Security guards get meager bonuses<\/p>\n
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
While many merrily traveled out of the city to celebrate the long
\nholiday, a few tough guys were left behind. They stay awake day
\nand night to secure housing complexes: They are Hansip (community
\nguards).<\/p>\n
Ironically, however, most of them only receive meager tips
\nfrom residents compared to the heightened risks they face during
\nthe holiday.<\/p>\n
An estimated 2.11 million Jakartans left the capital to
\ncelebrate Idul Fitri in their hometowns as part of the tradition
\nof mudik (exodus). Most people are enjoying a nine-day holiday,
\nsince Nov. 22 to Nov. 30, with many returning to the city on
\nSaturday and Sunday.<\/p>\n
\"My holiday bonus is half that of previous years, only Rp
\n400,000 (US$47) from Rp 800,000,\" said Royani, 40, a community
\nguard on Jl. Raya Kelapa Lilin, Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The residents of the upmarket housing complex refused to give
\ncommunity guards a higher holiday bonus, claiming that they were
\nbroke due to sluggish business.<\/p>\n
He said that he, along with 31 other community guards, worked
\n12-hour shifts to safeguard the vast complex of around 600
\nhouses.<\/p>\n
Royani's salary amounts to around Rp 600,000 a month,
\ncollected from residents.<\/p>\n
For Sarkap, 35, a community guard on Jl. Kayu Manis, East
\nJakarta, two cans of crackers and some scant tips from the
\nresidents were his only bonus this year.<\/p>\n
He said that some residents gave him tips of between Rp 5,000
\nand Rp 20,000.<\/p>\n
\"I feel grateful, however, that there are some generous
\nresidents who take pity on us when they see us guarding their
\nhomes on rainy days,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Sarkap said his salary was only Rp 180,000 a month.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, his friend, Papak, 61, said community guards worked
\nharder during the holiday, because burglars often targeted empty
\nhouses.<\/p>\n
\"Unfortunately, only a few residents have informed us of their
\nplans to travel out of town. We ourselves have to identify which
\nhouses are abandoned, that really complicates our jobs,\" he
\ngrumbled.<\/p>\n
City Police acting spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Eddi Ihwanto
\nlamented that the public was barely aware of their community
\nguard's woes.<\/p>\n
\"People think of (the significance of) their community guards
\nonly when they are in trouble,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Eddi said that people must alter their perspective of
\ncommunity guards.<\/p>\n
\"The public must start thinking of security as an investment,
\nrather than worrying about immediate costs. Higher salaries for
\ncommunity guards will surely result in tighter security,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Police have admitted that they were unable to uphold security
\nin the capital because of the sheer size and lack of officers.<\/p>\n
There are officially 20,895 police personnel who have to cover
\nGreater Jakarta, including Tangerang, Depok and Bekasi, with a
\ntotal population of more than 18 million.<\/p>\n
Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Makbul Padmanagara had earlier
\nsaid that the police were deploying around 12,000 personnel to
\nensure security in the capital under operation code-named Ketupat
\nLilin 2003 (named after the compressed rice-cakes traditionally
\neaten at Idul Fitri and candle that represents Christmas).<\/p>\n
In addition to the number of Hansip totaling 10,190 citywide,
\nthe capital also has 2,855 civilian police (PPNS), 72,579
\nsecurity guards (Satpam) and 6,000 public order officers.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/security-guards-get-meager-bonuses-1447893297",
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