Jakarta becomes ghosts town; 38 flights delayed

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The city was quiet as a whisper on Monday, with no jams on the streets, most shops closed and even air traffic reduced, as 38 flights to and from Soekarno-Hatta airport were delayed. Meanwhile, all the action was taking place at polling stations, with Jakartans turning out in droves to vote.

Thirda Prilia, public relations officer of the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Cengkareng, Tangerang, said the delayed flights -- heading to and from Yogyakarta, Surabaya, Balikpapan, Semarang, Makassar, Manado, Padang, Palembang, Pekanbaru, Jayapura, Pontianak, Bengkulu and Tanjung Karang -- had to be rescheduled because of election day.

However, no international flights were delayed or canceled and flights to Denpasar ran according to schedule.

Thirda said the flight schedule returned to normal after 12 p.m.

Similar to the April 5 legislative election and the first round of the presidential election on July 5, the government declared Monday a national holiday to enable registered voters to make it to polling stations from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Antara reported that the airport was virtually deserted, with only a few passengers milling around the departure and arrival gates.

Several passengers and airport employees were also seen casting their votes at 21 polling stations located within the airport.

At Pulogadung bus terminal in East Jakarta and Gambir railway station in Central Jakarta, it seemed like everyone had stayed home -- although, over the weekend, passenger numbers had risen slightly as people returned to their hometowns to vote.

"Only 10 buses entered the terminal before noon," said terminal officer Dadang. "I guess more people will be heading back tonight or tomorrow," he said.

At Tanjung Priok Port, North Jakarta, freight handling activities were left for the evening shift workers who start at 4 p.m.

With most offices, shopping centers and schools closed, Jakarta seemed like a ghost town.

But, at 24,214 polling stations citywide some 6,617,980 eligible voters were scheduled to cast their votes.

Monday was a respite of sorts for residents, with the usually crowded thoroughfares of Jl. Sudirman, Jl. Thamrin and Jl. Gatot Subroto a breeze to travel on.

Public buses, which are usually jampacked were also seen plying the streets half-empty.

Glodok business district in West Jakarta had none of its usual hustle and bustle -- most stores had a closed sign on the door and only a few street-side vendors were interested in customers.

Activities at the city's wholesale markets of Kramat Jati and Cipinang, both in East Jakarta, also ground to a halt as many traders and workers were back in their villages, where they are registered to vote.

Several shopping malls, including Mal Ambassador in Kuningan, South Jakarta, were also closed, while others only opened after 1 p.m., the starting time for vote counting at polling stations.

Cafes and restaurants at Cilandak Town Square in South Jakarta had just started to open at 2 p.m., while almost all stores at Blok M Plaza, South Jakarta, were not yet open at noon.

Several "shopperholics", who had been planning to hit the malls after the polling station were disappointed to find them closed.