Celebrating Idul Fitri with concern

Celebrating Idul Fitri with concern

JAKARTA (JP): The post-fasting holiday of Idul Fitri is a time
for celebration and gathering with relatives for Moslems. But has
the acute monetary crisis, the worst in decades, dampened the
festive spirit of the faithful? The Jakarta Post reporters look
at the blessings to be had amid the hardship.

Djamaludin Suryohadikusumo, minister of forestry: This year's
Idul Fitri means more than those in past years because we will
celebrate it in the middle of the economic crisis.

I will celebrate it in a more modest way.

Because of the crisis, more and more people have suffered.
They might not be as lucky as I am, who, as a minister, still can
afford to buy good meals. A lot of people might not be able to
buy proper meals to celebrate Idul Fitri.

I plan to reduce my spending when sending packages to my
relations. I used to send a lot of packages to relatives, friends
and colleagues. My late wife (who died last August) used to serve
a little banquet for our guests. This year, I will spend Lebaran
with my children and their families.

My special prayer for Idul Fitri? I will pray to God that our
nation will be able to lift itself out of its predicament. I hope
our nation will survive the crisis and be able to work as a team.

I also hope God will give me more time to live so I can serve
my country better.

Ginandjar Kartasasmita, state minister of national development
planning: I have a regular pattern in celebrating Idul Fitri. On
the first day, I am in Jakarta, and we pray at the Istiqlal
mosque. If Pak Harto holds an open house, I usually go to his
residence. Then I visit my mother.

At night, I receive my staff at home. The following day, I go
to Sumedang and also to Banjar to visit my father's grave.

I don't think there is a significant difference between Idul
Fitri each year, even though we are in crisis now. I have always
celebrated Idul Fitri modestly. I don't throw money around.

In my prayers every day I say a special prayer for my parents,
for us, for all the people, the Moslems, and for this nation. I
pray that we can succeed in overcoming this crisis.

Hayono Isman, state minister of youth affairs and sports: This
Idul Fitri is different as it comes during a crisis. We will have
to adapt accordingly.

If we hold an open house, I will ask my wife to serve simple
dishes. An open house is a must since that's what Idul Fitri is
all about, the time to get together and forgive one another.

My personal prayer on this Idul Fitri will be for the crisis
to pass soon and the situation to return to normal quickly.

Sutiyoso, Jakarta governor: Jakarta should celebrate Idul
Fitri modestly. We can still care for each other. We can still
save a little money for alms and charities for needy people.

I urge all Jakartans to be thrifty and modest. Don't hold a
glamorous celebrations.

I urge residents to join Idul Fitri celebrations with deep and
earnest prayers for the sake of our country.

We will celebrate Idul Fitri with special concern and well-
being in mind. A less than extraordinary celebration does not
mean we will have less Lebaran reflection.

From the bottom of my heart, I just wish for Jakarta and this
nation to be safe from harm. Let's pray together ... pray a lot,
because we are facing a serious turbulent time here.

Because it's the festive Idul Fitri season, many people will
travel in and out of Jakarta. I say to holidaymakers ... please
don't bring back any of your relatives or friends with you.
Jakarta is already too crowded. Don't burden the city.

Emil Salim, senior economist and former cabinet minister:
During Idul Fitri, I usually visit older members of my family, my
older siblings and my aunts.

On the massive layoffs prior to Idul Fitri, I hope this
situation will only be temporary. Later we will be able to move
faster than now and the situation will improve.

I pray we can be saved from the current situation. The crisis
has been very tough, so I wish there won't be any upheaval and
that our nation can join hands to overcome this crisis.

It's a different situation compared to the Old Order in the
1960s. During those days, people were of the same social status,
there weren't any people who were too rich or too poor. Now, some
of them own big factories. That's the difference. So this crisis
is more painful than it was 30 years ago.

Abdurrahman Wahid, chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama. (He was
interviewed before undergoing treatment at Cipto Mangunkusumo
Hospital, Jakarta): This Idul Fitri, I will be in East Java to
receive the bishop of Surabaya, the bishop of Malang and the head
of the local Christian church as they will say their wishes for
the holiday.

I feel for the people who have been laid off. I think they are
the victims of our failing economic strategy. Anyway, all my
neighbors are farmers so they have not been affected by the
layoffs. They are already very poor.

I have the same prayer each year, that I will be granted
salvation, sufficiency and courage.

For this nation, I pray it will be granted benevolence, and
that there will be social justice and legal sovereignty.

I have never worn new clothes during Idul Fitri. Now that we
are all concerned, we should live with concern. If we are all
concerned, should we not conform to it?

Tini Hadad, chairwoman of the Indonesian Consumers Foundation:
The situation makes me feel sad because people usually celebrate
Idul Fitri with a joyful spirit, but now there are workers who
have been laid off or do not get their Idul Fitri bonuses. One of
my relatives might even lose his job in the pharmacy business.

The crisis has affected my family, as not only the price of
food, but even the price of other daily needs, such as soap, have
increased. My family never celebrates Idul Fitri by buying
expensive things, or even replaces old furniture with new ones.
Still, I plan to reduce my shopping lists, especially on food.

I have no special prayer for this Idul Fitri, but, I wish
government officials will become a good example for people in
celebrating Idul Fitri, such as by not traveling abroad or buying
luxurious things, while people suffer during the crisis.

Azrul Azwar, chairman of the Indonesian Medical Association
and the International Medical Association: The situation makes me
feel concerned. Usually people are happy while preparing to
celebrate Idul Fitri, but now it is very different.

Fortunately, for my family, Idul Fitri does not necessarily
mean new clothes or feast. Besides, my children have already
grown up.

The crisis has had a big impact on my family as I usually
contribute alms to the poor. The fluctuation of the rupiah's
value against the dollar confuses me.

This Idul Fitri, I have a special prayer, I hope the crisis
will pass soon and those who are laid off can work again. And I
also hope conglomerates will help the poor.

Saparinah Sadli, a lecturer at the University of Indonesia,
head of the university's Women's Studies program, and a member of
the National Commission on Human Rights: This year many people
will face difficulties. Some have lost their jobs because of the
crisis, while everything has become expensive.

For me and my own family, Idul Fitri is the right time to get
together and not the time to party. I'm not a wife of a high-
ranking official ... I'm only a housewife. But as usual, I will
still give my Idul Fitri alms.

My prayer for this Idul Fitri is a very personal matter, but I
will pray for the safety of all.

Megawati Soekarnoputri, the ousted leader of the Indonesian
Democratic Party: This year's Idul Fitri celebration is
completely full of concern.

About my family's preparation for the celebration, there will
not be any significant changes. It's not our habit to buy new
clothes just for Idul Fitri.

Thank God we can afford to buy food for the celebration and
give religious alms, things that those who have just lost their
jobs or are paid low wages cannot afford to do.

People should celebrate this year's Idul Fitri in modesty,
humility and simplicity in a familial spirit.

Ayu Azhari, an actress: This is a sad situation. Prices are
going up everywhere and I can't imagine how the poor are managing
it. Food supplies are supposed to be available, but everybody's
short of food. To top it all, everything is expensive. Some
stores have closed down, too.

Thankfully I can still set aside 2.5 percent of my income for
the poor. I've bought a few clothes for the children and my new
baby. We will be visiting my parents' place during Idul Fitri.

Due to the recession, I just hope TV production houses do not
close down because the recession is hitting hard everywhere,
otherwise we too could be out of a job.

I believe that at this stage, only God can help us. Mankind is
the one who created dollars and now it cannot control its own
creation. So let the Creator of all creators take charge.

Guruh Soekarnoputra, choreographer and owner of an
entertainment agency: This year won't be any different for me
because I have always observed Lebaran in a simple way.

After the Idul Fitri prayer, I will join my sisters at the
home of Guntur, my oldest brother. We do this every year, from
about 9 a.m. to noon. Then I might go to visit my mother's grave.

Then I will head home. In the late afternoon, some friends
might come to my house and we'll go out for dinner.

There won't be an open house but my house is always open. And
there won't be any new clothes for me because I never buy them
just for Lebaran.

Munir, a lawyer with the Foundation of the Indonesian Legal
Aid Institute (YLBHI): This will be my first Idul Fitri in
Jakarta. The recession has put me off my plan to go my hometown
in Surabaya. I will only get two days off and, as you may know,
transportation at that time will be more expensive. Some of
YLBHI's staff who are from Sumatra have also decided not to go
home this year.

At least there is one positive thing we can learn from the
recession ... people are forced to moderate their consumption
level.

Sukirman, a 55-year-old Idul Fitri cardmaker from Central
Jakarta: I just want to live ... I don't think about Idul Fitri
as much as I used to because of this difficult situation

Imagine, every Idul Fitri I used to earn Rp 100,000 per day.
But these days, I only get Rp 15,000 per day, sometimes without
any income to bring home because there are no customers.

I have canceled my plans to go to my hometown in Java. It's
better to stay here ... I don't have enough money to give to my
relatives there.

Joko, member of the Police Mobile Brigade: The crisis will not
change the way my family and I spend Idul Fitri. I will work as
usual. You know, people like us never have hope on holidays.

My wife will buy new clothes for our children with whatever
money is left.

Maybe we'll buy less new clothes or eat less food, but as far
as I am concerned we've always been in a 'recession' long before
this current monetary problem occurred. My wish? I just wish I
could spend more time with my family on Idul Fitri. For me that's
more valuable than all the dollars in the world. I don't care
about dollars because I don't have any. I think my family will
still be able to celebrate the season in real happiness.

Pontjo Sutowo, owner of Jakarta Hilton Hotel International and
chairman of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association:

I realize, because of the crisis, more and more people will
suffer. A lot of people might not be able to buy a proper meal or
clothes to celebrate Idul Fitri.

Like Islam says: "In worldly matters we should look at people
who are less fortunate, while in heavenly matters we should look
at people who are better than us." It means if we suffer, there
are other people out there who suffer more than us.

Is the crisis going to affect the way I celebrate Idul Fitri?
Yes, I will celebrate Idul Fitri in a modest way. I plan to
reduce my spending during the celebrations. In past Idul Fitris,
I served banquets for my guests. But this year, I will hold a
little gathering, not a big celebration.

I don't know if any close friends of mine have been badly
affected by the crisis. God willing, the Hilton will not lay off
its workers.

I don't have any special prayer for Idul Fitri. But I will
pray to God that our nation will be able to overcome its present
economic crisis. I will pray to God that our economic and
political conditions will stabilize because unstable conditions
are an enemy to the country's tourism.

Endro Utomo Notodisuryo, director general of Electricity and
Energy Development: This year's Idul Fitri will be no different
from previous ones because we have always led a modest life.

My family is used to live in "crisis" even before the current
economic crisis took place. I live in a modest house owned by
state electricity company PLN in which I serve as president
commissioner.

We are going to celebrate Idul Fitri as modestly as we have
always done.

This Idul Fitri holiday will cause me and my family to deeply
reflect on the future of our beloved country. (team)