CBD office workers ready with contingency plans

JAKARTA (JP): Management and employees of offices located along trouble spots for street rallies on Jl. Sudirman and Jl. M.H. Thamrin in Central and South Jakarta are bracing for the worst-case scenario after the presidential election on Wednesday.

Preparations include bringing changes of casual clothes, stockpiling instant food and devising contingency plans.

Andreas, an employee of Aetna Life Indonesia in the Anggana Danamon building complex on Jl. Sudirman, said that his office permitted all of its employees to wear casual clothes in the past few days to allow them to blend into a crowd.

"We usually have to wear a tie during work hours," said the cashier in his casual shirt and shoes.

He said women in the office were also allowed to wear pants instead of the usual formal dress.

Most of the employees have also started to use public transportation.

"It's safer during such times," Andres said.

Similar safety measures have been adopted by PT Inter Bumi Nugraha, which manages Plaza Sentral located adjacent to Atma Jaya University.

The firm's technical manager, Roger Kwando, said employees were advised to bring extra clothes in case they were stranded during riots.

"We have prepared adequate instant noodle and mineral water for three to four days if the condition forces us to stay in the office," said Roger, who is in charge of about 75 employees, including security guards at the building.

Other employees of offices located along the streets are bringing extra food provisions.

"I am afraid that restaurants will close during the next few days," said employee Yosepha MW of RSI Bank.

Some offices and shops were open on Tuesday but on full security alert.

Plaza Indonesia's management has trained all its tenants in security procedures.

According to Rahman from the Alfred Dunhill store and Rido from Loewe, the building management prepared a meeting point for tenants to be evacuated if the situation became dangerous.

"We have been trained to leave through emergency exits and they will also prepare transportation," said Rahmat.

Management of PT Wisma Nusantara International has prepared what it calls an Emergency Communication Network for dangerous situations, said building manager Irwan Makdoerah.

"We have prepared job descriptions for those responsible under emergency condition. For example, there will be people in charge of evacuation and guarding emergency exits," Irwan said.

Chief of security for Wisma GKBI in front of Atma Jaya University, Thomas M. Flohr, said his 30 security guards were instructed to prepare themselves for overtime demands.

"Security guards have been instructed to be on alert, to always check the security situation in the surrounding area and inform the developments to all tenants," he said.

Like most foreign companies, tobacco company PT Philip Morris Indonesia has a complete contingency plan in the event of riots in front of its office on Jl. Sudirman.

"We are cooperating with a security company which provides transportation along with security guards to evacuate our employees if riots happen," corporate affairs manager Geroad Yusuf said.

Mobil Oil, which is located near the Semanggi cloverleaf, has similar preparations at the ready.

"We do not have a special contingency plan, we are only watching the situation clearly every hour before deciding if to send everybody home and close the office," communication coordinator Julia Tumengkol said. (ind/04)