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