"Be Careful, Abi, Watch Out for the Big Truck" – Story of a DKI Honorary Teacher Cycling to School

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Chilly air still pierced through Tegal Alur, Kalideres, West Jakarta, in the early hours of Wednesday (22/4/2026). The sky remained dark with a bluish-black hue, and the sun had yet to appear. However, Jalan Lingkungan III in Tegal Alur was already bustling with a handful of residents starting their day early. One of them was Azis (45), an honorary teacher of Islamic religious studies and arts at Madrasah Ibtidaiyah Nurul Islam 1 in Penjaringan, North Jakarta. Kompas.com arrived at Azis’s home around 05.15 WIB, when the surrounding houses were still tightly shut. Azis’s home was located in Gang Lingga IX, RT 007 RW 003, Tegal Alur Ward. Azis was performing the Subuh prayer while wearing his scout uniform, matching the school uniform worn by his eldest daughter, Azalea (11). After bidding farewell to his wife, Azis kissed the forehead of his second daughter, who was sleeping soundly in her mother’s arms. He then put on his grey jacket, which he wore every day to protect himself from the cold air and the sun’s heat. The bicycle, with several parts of its frame covered in rust, was Azis’s only vehicle for traversing from West to North Jakarta to reach his school. While being hugged by his child from the back seat, Azis pedalled calmly, passing people walking on foot carrying shopping from the market. Several times, he swerved to the right and left, avoiding pedestrians walking almost in the middle of the road. However, the real journey began when he turned and entered the main road, Jalan Kapuk Kamal Raya.