Capital becomes like a ghost city

Capital becomes like a ghost city

JAKARTA (JP): Most offices and shops throughout the city were
closed on Thursday as city residents were still gripped by the
festive mood of Idul Fitri.

Most activities practically ground to a halt and the capital
was left like a ghost city. A handful of restaurants which were
opened were flooded by customers, who mostly complained about
difficulties in finding lunch.

The habitual hustle-and-bustle of traffic along the major
thoroughfares like Jl. Thamrin, Jl. Sudirman, Jl. Juanda and Jl.
Cikini Raya in Central Jakarta was absent and these roads were so
deserted that only a few vehicles could be spotted.

According to some employees, office activities would restart
only on Monday.

"I think most offices have let their employees enjoy the Idul
Fitri vacation for one full week. It is not surprising as such a
policy has been implemented for years," said a security guard of
an office complex on Jl. Sudirman.

Dede, a marketing officer of a water treatment machine
distributor in Grogol, West Jakarta, said that he would start
work again on Monday.

"We would have nothing to do if we went to work now as
customers are still on vacation," he said. "Now I just go around
visiting customers to deliver Idul Fitri greetings."

A staff member of the city's inspectorate office said that
only 10 employees of the office showed up on Thursday.

"Those who do not show up include employees in charge of
handling the corruption cases in the city administration," the
staff member, who asked for anonymity, said.

"What can I say? I guess everybody's on holiday."

About 15 of the city's public relations bureau staffers were
seen chatting or making personal calls with two others being
caught sleeping. Some of them left the office two hours earlier
than the usual 4:30 p.m.

Meanwhile, a staff member of the city's employee affairs
bureau, said that he did not expect such a high degree of
"truancy" from employees of the city administration.

"The bureau expected at least those who had not traveled out
of the city to show up today," he said.

Sidewalk vendors at Senen market in Central Jakarta and some
shopping centers did start their activities on Thursday, but only
a few customers appeared.

At Senen market almost all vendors displayed their merchandise
on part of the road, thereby causing traffic to slow down but no
congestion.

The nearby Atrium shopping center also opened but it was short
of visitors.

Restaurants which had opened were packed by customers on
Thursday.

On. Jl. Sabang and Jl. Wahid Hasyim in Central Jakarta, the
location of tens of restaurants, parked cars lined the streets.

A customer of the Toko Tiga restaurant named Rudy said that he
was forced to have lunch at the quite expensive restaurant
because foodstalls near his office were still closed as the
owners were on vacation.

The Pho Hoa Vietnamese noodle restaurant was also packed with
customers.

Many visitors could also be seen at a foodstall center on Jl
Gelora, Central Jakarta. (ind/ylt)