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)