'I don't know how to get another job'

'I don't know how to get another job'

The city administration has ordered nightspots and entertainment
centers to shut down or reduce their operating hours in
observance of the upcoming Muslim fasting month of Ramadhan. Some
local residents told The Jakarta Post this decision will also
have an effect on them.

Babe, 50, an unemployed man who lives near a bar and massage
parlor on Jl. Mangga Besar in West Jakarta:

I agree with the city administration regulation requiring the
nightspots here to stop operations during the fasting month.

It might be even better to close all the entertainment centers
here permanently, out of moral considerations.

I don't only blame the prostitutes who tempt customers in the
nightspots or massage parlors. Many husbands cheat on their wives
in these places. The have destroyed the sanctity of marriage.

I'm not a moralist but simply an ordinary man who dreams of
better living conditions here.

Honestly, I spend most of my days hanging around the
entertainment spots to help the police or military intelligence
do their jobs in dealing with red-light areas.

If the police plan to raid the entertainment centers here, I
will help them arrest the prostitutes and their customers.

Nanang, an illegal lottery dealer. He resides in Karanganyar,
Central Jakarta, with his three children and wife:

I don't agree with the government's regulation closing the
nightspots for a month.

The city administration never considered the livelihoods of
the many people who work in entertainment centers. They succeeded
in passing a regulation, but failed to improve welfare of the
people.

High-ranking officials are always selfish. And poor people are
always victimized and can do nothing about it.

I predict that during the fasting month there won't be any
visitors to the nightspots here. As a result, I will lose many
customers who try their luck with my lottery because most of them
are visitors to the entertainment centers.

I don't know how to get another job, at least one that will
allow me to support my family. I can't even think of the money
I'll need to celebrate Idul Fitri.

Samsu, 40, a motorcycle taxi driver near Mangga Besar in West
Jakarta. He lives on Jl. Gunung Sahari, Central Jakarta, with his
four children and wife:

As an ordinary person, I disagree with the regulation on the
closure of nightspots.

My life is partly dependent on some of the visitors to these
entertainment centers.

If bars, massage parlors, discotheques and pubs are closed
down, how can I earn a living?

It's obvious the government only sides with high-ranking
officials, certain powerful groups and businessmen, but never
with the poor.

Normally I earn Rp 30,000 a day, but it will be tough to make
just Rp 10,000 a night during the fasting month.

Maybe I'll go back to my hometown in Semarang, Central Java,
with my family rather than stay here without any money.

Antok, a regular visitor to one of the discotheques in Mangga
Besar. He lives in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta:

I think a rule is a rule regardless of if we agree with it. We
must obey it despite our own preferences.

I can see how the regulation closing down or reducing the
operating hours of entertainment centers would be hard to accept.
But that's the reality and we have to comply with it.

I'm sure that eventually people, especially those who work at
entertainment centers, will adapt to it.

As a guest, the closure doesn't really bother me too much. I
mean, there are still many other entertainment options in the
city.

For instance, I could have fun by going to the cinema. So it's
fine.