Business as usual despite campaign

JAKARTA (JP): Business activities at Mangga Dua shopping center in West Jakarta continue as usual, undisturbed by the campaign rallies.

Most shops, selling products ranging from shoes, bags, clothes, electronic goods, watches and food, in the business center were open on Thursday.

Cigarette and drink vendors were seen on the street in front of the market offering their merchandise to passing motorists and passengers on public transportation vehicles.

Attributes of political parties contesting the upcoming general election, particularly the National Awakening Party (PKB), the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), were on offer in every corner of the market, Antara reported.

Security personnel, including soldiers, the police, members of the civilian militia and security guards, were seen guarding the market.

"The shops here continue doing business as usual even though the number of buyers has fallen," Genuk, a shop employee, said. (hhr)