Councilors warn of migrant influx after Idul Fitri

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)