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)