'I'am afraid of ID checks'
The city administration has planned to conduct a sweep against people, especially new migrants, who do not have identity cards (KTP), jobs or a place to stay in the city. It has been estimated that about 250,000 new migrants enter the city every year after the Islamic holiday of Idul Fitri. The Jakarta Post talked to several holidaymakers after Idul Fitri, which is known locally as Lebaran.
Jabar, 29, is a seasonal worker who comes from East Java. He resides in Cengkareng, West Jakarta, with his family;
I'm afraid of the city administration's plan to conduct the identity card sweep against migrants, because I haven't gotten one since I came here ten years ago.
But I intend to get one later so that I can survive such raids.
Luckily, I didn't ask anyone from my village to come along with me to Jakarta. I don't want to risk newcomers' lives here because I realize that living in Jakarta is really tough.
In a way, though, I agree with the city administration's plan to take stern measures in an attempt to minimize migrants, who have been the cause of many problems for the city.
Parmin, 22, has been working for three years at a garment factory in Kebayoran Lama, South Jakarta. He comes from Grobogan, Central Java:
Basically, I agree with the plan to sweep migrants who don't have steady jobs or permanent residences. I think this is essential in the effort to reduce unemployment and poverty in the city.
Three years ago, I was raided as I had no ID card. I was questioned by the police officers, but they released me when I paid them Rp 20,000 and told them that I was working here and lived with my family.
After that incident, I went and bought an identity card which cost me Rp 150,000, more or less. Now I feel safe to go to work.
I agree with the city administration's plan to limit the newcomers here. At least it will help reduce the population density of the city.
I have recently seen several ID crackdowns on the street, but I don't have a problem.
Joko, 29, is an employee at a private company in Tangerang. He resides in Serpong, Tangerang, with his wife:
I disagree with the city administration's plan to conduct a raid against migrants who do not have IDs or jobs here.
I think it's better if the government deals with the existing societal problems in the city. Action is much more important than issuing regulations. Besides, the stern measures here will simply focus on the low-income people.
During my time in Jakarta, I found that most neighborhood or community units didn't mind the newcomers, and that they weren't serious about banning the migrants.
Besides, it's easy to get an ID card instantly, as long as we can afford to pay about Rp 150,000 to local administration officers and can claim that we have family and jobs here.
Over Christmas, I will return to Jakarta with some people from my village to work on a construction job. I prefer villagers to city people, who aren't reliable workers.
Sugeng, 31, is an electrician who resides in Pondok Gede, Bekasi, in West Java. He originally comes from Lampung, Sumatra:
I agree with the measures being conducted by the city administration to ban jobless migrants from coming to the city.
It's important to reduce the number of people in the city, which contributes to crime and other negative social problems, including rising unemployment.
Even if the migrants have jobs and relatives here, I myself would not recommend them to come to the city.
I never persuade my family or relatives at my village to come and work here. I used to give them the true picture of the hardships faced here, so as to discourage them from betting their lives in Jakarta.
If they are sure about their chances of getting a good job, though, I'll agree to their coming to the city.