'I have to go along with the regulation'
'I have to go along with the regulation'
The Muslim fasting month of Ramadhan will begin in early
November, and in order to protect the sanctity of the holy month
the city administration will issue a regulation requiring
entertainment centers and nightspots to either close down or to
reduce their operating hours. A number of people whose earnings
depend on these nightspots shared their views with The Jakarta
Post.
Firman, 25, a room attendant at a massage parlor in Mayestik,
South Jakarta. He lives in Cileungsi, Bogor, West Java:
I have to agree with the regulation closing massage parlors.
Otherwise, I might lose my job here. I guess closing down the
parlor is better than allowing it to be attacked by hard-line
groups. If that happened and they destroyed the parlor then I
would be unemployed for good.
I'll just look at the positive side, because during the
closure I will have a month's holiday. Usually, employees only
get two days off a month.
But on the other hand, I won't have any income for a month. I
might get an Idul Fitri allowance but surely it will be less than
my monthly salary.
So during the fasting holiday perhaps I will try to get a
part-time job to extra money for the Idul Fitri celebration.
Rosid, a vendor who sells beverages and cigarettes outside a
massage parlor in South Jakarta. He lives alone in Sentral,
Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta:
Like it or not, I have to follow the rules issued by the city
administration despite the fact that my income will drop by about
20 percent from normal days.
If I was making the regulations I wouldn't close entertainment
spots and massage parlors because that harms people who already
make little money.
I'm sure the city administration has formulated the regulation
because of pressure from other parties. We know that.
I'm Muslim but that doesn't mean that as a Muslim I have to
impose rules that everyone else must obey.
But it's OK. I'll keep my kiosk open to earn a living, even if
I make less money because of these closures.
Ade, not his real name, 23, a parking attendant at a massage
parlor and spa in South Jakarta. He lives in Kebayoran Lama,
South Jakarta, with his wife:
As a Muslim I can understand the regulation issued by the city
administration to close down the entertainment spots.
Let's say it symbolizes respect for the fasting month.
Besides, the closure will only last for one month.
I don't think it is a serious problem, even if my income drops
for the month.
However, I just have to believe that God will provide me my
daily needs. I can work as a parking attendant at the market
around here.
And I usually get bonuses from many of the shop owners around
here, so I don't think it will be too serious a problem.
Adhi, 25, a maintenance man at a massage parlor on Jl.
Dharmawangsa, South Jakarta. He lives in Fatmawati, South
Jakarta:
It's not a problem for me if the parlor closes down to honor
the fasting month. At least I can have a month's holiday.
I think we have to obey the government regulation to avoid any
unexpected incidents for occurring. I mean, some hard-line group
would probably attack the place if we didn't obey the regulation.
Honestly, I don't worry too much about the temporary closure.
I have prepared by saving a bit of money for the long holiday.
Perhaps, I will go to my hometown in East Java. I can work for
my brother in a workshop to earn extra money, since my Idul Fitri
bonus will not be enough to live on.
Ima, 26, the manger of a batik gallery in Bintaro, South
Jakarta:
Closing and cutting the opening hours of nightspots is fine
with me. We must reduce such activities during the holy month.
But the owners and employers must take care of their employees
during the fasting month, because the employees still have to
support themselves.
The order to close and limit nightspots has become routine for
the city administration every year. So there is no reason for the
owners to neglect their employees, because they have had 11
months to make up for the losses during the fasting month.
-- Leo Wahyudi S