Increase in Idul Fitri cards expected

JAKARTA (JP): The city office of the state-owned postal service company, PT Pos Indonesia, has predicted a significant increase in demand during Idul Fitri following the government's call to limit spending during the economic crisis.

In terms of letters, for instance, the company has estimated it will receive up to 37 million letters in the weeks before and after the post-fasting holiday.

This represents a 27.58 percent increase compared to last year's Idul Fitri load of 29 million letters, spokesman Bang Bang Suherman told The Jakarta Post yesterday.

The letters, to be sent locally and overseas, are expected to include greeting cards and personal, business and government letters.

"We're also expecting to deliver a total of Rp 25 billion money orders this Idul Fitri season, which is also higher than last year's Rp 21 billion."

Suherman said the estimations were based on the government's call for people to be thrifty and not to go for unnecessary holidays during the economic downturn.

"People will choose to save their money and, if necessary, send it as a money order for their relatives and business partners.

The crisis will also encourage people to send cards and letters, instead of expensive parcels and gifts, to express their Idul Fitri greetings," he said.

The head of Pos Indonesia's Central Jakarta branch, Arief Supriyono, outlined the special services being provided to prevent letters getting lost.

One of the services, Jejak Lacak (mail tracing), designed to ensure the quick, easy and secure handling of mail, started this week, he said.

Mail can be monitored via the Internet and will cost Rp 5,000 per package, up to a weight of 500 grams.

For ordinary letters, the price is set at Rp 300 per letter for up to 50 grams, which will arrive within three to seven days.

As of yesterday -- less than two weeks before Idul Fitri, large crowds were swamping the city's post offices, including those in Pasar Baru in Central Jakarta and on Jl. Pemuda in East Jakarta.

Most are sending Idul Fitri greeting cards as well as money to relatives and business partners.

Suratno, a customer at Pasar Baru post office, said that it was easier for him to send money to family members living in his hometown than trying to celebrate Idul Fitri in the village.

"I only have Rp 150,000... so it's better to mail it rather than use it for transport to my kampong," he said. (edt)