Holiday mood still prevails in many areas

Holiday mood still prevails in many areas

JAKARTA (JP): The capital was quiet on Monday with numerous
shopping centers closed and government and private offices
running at half-speed with many employees away on their Idul
Fitri holidays.

City Hall and City Council looked deserted as the majority of
city employees and councilors were still out of town for the
holidays.

Governor Sutiyoso acknowledged the absence of many of his
staff.

"I hope the employees will return to their posts soon to serve
the public," he said after receiving some 1,000 well-wishers,
including city personnel and officials, at City Hall.

"There are existing regulations on absences for city
staff members and we will uphold those regulations," he said.
"However, the sanctions will not block an employee's career as
they are only a form of education."

The absence of city employees, however, did not effect public
services for the trickle of people who came to City Hall on
Monday.

The City Revenue Agency office, which on most days is standing
room only, was virtually empty, the only sign of life being
several agency employees.

"Private offices are still closed today. Perhaps the situation
will be normal on Tuesday or Wednesday," said agency official
Sumarno bin Lasman.

"Usually there are some 200 people here every day settling
their business," he said.

The scene was similar at the city-owned Bank DKI branch
office.

Many of the city employees that went to work on Monday left
City Hall at around 10:00 a.m., and by 2:30 p.m. the building was
completely deserted.

Sutiyoso himself flew to Yogyakarta at 2:30 p.m. to pay an
Idul Fitri visit to his parents-in-law.

There was even less activity at City Council, with most
councilors out of town and the majority of offices dark.

"The councilors are still on recess and most of them are out
of town, such as in Manado and Medan, for so-called comparison
studies. Perhaps they will return on Tuesday or Wednesday," said
a staff member of the council administration.

In Bogor, some 40 kilometers south of here, nearly all of the
public service offices were closed on Monday and few
administration employees were present.

The administration's activities were at a virtual standstill
with civil servants coming to the office only to offer Idul Fitri
greetings. Most employees went home at 10 a.m.

"You know, we are in the Idul Fitri spirit; it's the same
thing each year. Most employees are still enjoying their holiday
leave," said one employee.

Activities are expected to return to normal next week.

With many shopping centers closed on Monday, those which were
open did good business. Crowds flocked to Plaza Senayan in
Central Jakarta, taking advantage of the fact the most of the
shops in the mall were open for business as usual.

Major intercity bus terminals and railway stations saw a
significant increase in the number of inbound passengers on
Monday, but the number is still expected to climb in the coming
days.

The information office at Pulogadung bus terminal in East
Jakarta said it expected the number of inbound travelers would
peak over the weekend. (05/21/ind/06)