'I won't bring anyone from my village to Jakarta'

The Jakarta administration has warned those leaving for their hometowns during the Idul Fitri holiday not to bring relatives or friends to the capital, which already has around 8.3 million citizens. Every year, around 230,000 newcomers arrive in the city after the holiday, most of whom are uneducated. The Jakarta Post talked to some Jakartans about the issue.

Endah, 28, is a housewife who lives in Jatinegara, East Jakarta, with her husband and three children. Her hometown is on Madura island, East Java:

I have to go home to Madura, especially during Idul Fitri, to see my parents. I visit them at least once a year to ask for forgiveness.

I won't bring anyone from my village to Jakarta. My household is already complicated enough with my three young children.

Suyati, 24, works as a nanny in Ciputat, South Jakarta. She comes from Purworejo, Central Java:

I have 10 days vacation to return to my hometown. I miss it. I have to see my hometown after one full year. I just really need to gather with my extended family.

I'm not sure if I'll bring anyone back here. Probably not. I don't think I would be capable of helping anyone to adjust to life in Jakarta. Life is already tough enough for me.

Yuli, 32, is a housewife who comes from Kriyan, Gresik, East Java. She lives with her husband and her four-year-old son in Pantai Indah Kapuk, North Jakarta:

I won't ask people in my hometown to come to Jakarta with me when I go home for Idul Fitri. Besides, nobody asks me anyway. I don't have any relatives except my mother there.

There are lots of factories near my village where people can work. They don't have to come to Jakarta to find work.

Mariati, 23, is an employee at a counter selling mobile phone recharge vouchers at Gambir railway station, Central Jakarta. Her home is in Dembolong village, near Surakarta, Central Java:

I don't bring friends to Jakarta when I return home for Idul Fitri. I can't even go home this year because my boss says there will be many people at the station during the holiday, so I have to work.

When my boss needs workers, he tells me so that I can call my parents to find someone. They will then bring the new employee to Jakarta.

There are about seven people from my village working around here now. But people prefer to work in Surakarta or Semarang because it is closer to home.

-- The Jakarta Post