Councilors warn of migrant influx after Idul Fitri

JAKARTA (JP): City councilors urged the municipality yesterday to tighten its supervision and control of the end-of-holiday influx to prevent migrants from flocking to the capital after Idul Fitri.

Soeparmo, the head of Commission E for welfare affairs, and Ali Wongso Sinaga, the head of Commission D for development affairs, said the stern action was needed for the sake of both the city and the newcomers.

However, the city should work together with provincial authorities to ensure locals there understand the difficulties associated with living in Jakarta, the councilors said.

Soeparmo said the municipality could -- if it was considered necessary -- stop "suspicious" and unwanted residents from entering the capital.

"But one thing is for sure, it has to be done by the book and there should be no violations of the existing regulations."

He admitted that it was impossible for Jakarta to become a "closed city" because it is, after all, a metropolitan city.

"The most important thing now is for the municipality to increase people's awareness that coming to Jakarta will not do them a lot of good, especially during the monetary crisis."

The municipality predicts more than 300,000 unwanted residents will enter Jakarta after the Idul Fitri holiday next week.

According to Soeparmo, people from outside Jakarta, mainly villagers from Java, should think carefully before deciding to move to the capital as there are few jobs available.

"Life in big cities are more difficult now because the residents depend on industries, which are relatively dead nowadays.

"It's still better to live in the villages, where they can use the land to grow plants to eat," he said. "That's why Jakartans are better to go back to their respective villages because the most important thing is being able to survive."

His colleague, Ali Wongso, said: "I hope that people who are not able to face hardship don't try to come here. It's better to live in the villages."

Directorate General of Land Transportation data predicts that 3.5 million people will travel out of the city for Idul Fitri. The travelers usually return, along with their relatives and friends who plan to find a better job in the city.

There was a sharp increase in the number of people leaving the city yesterday, with just four or five days to go before the religious holiday. It is expected to peak today.

The national Idul Fitri post predicted that the number of travelers (until midnight) yesterday would reach about 180,000 people.

Some 60,000 were expected to leave the city's six main railway stations at Tanah Abang, Manggarai, Gambir, Senen, Kota and Jatinegara.

Another 100,000 were to leave Jakarta from the four main bus terminals in Kampung Rambutan, Kalideres, Pulogadung and Lebak Bulus and 15 other smaller terminals throughout the city.

The large crowds yesterday meant some passengers had to wait for hours at train stations and bus terminals.

The City Land Transportation Agency recorded several violations in West Jakarta yesterday by drivers of 14 buses departing from Kalideres Bus Terminal.

The buses, most of which were heading to Wonosobo, Purwokerto and Surakata, were caught red-handed picking up passengers outside the terminal, Karsom, an agency staffer, said.

The bus companies will be notified about their drivers' violations so further action could be taken, he said.

Two buses in the Pinang Ranti area, East Jakarta, were also found violating the rules when they picked up passengers outside the terminals.

"They also doubled the ticket price to Tegal, Central Java, from Rp 15,000 to Rp 30,000 per person," Oriyanto, head of the agency's traffic supervision and control division, said. (edt/04/ind)