Mistresses: Flip side of Batam sex trade

Fadli, Batam

The industrial city of Batam has grown into a mini-metropolis in its own right, and glitters with the promise of profit and prosperity. Located strategically adjacent to Singapore at only 20 kilometers away, many are drawn to the opportunity of earning foreign currency in Batam, and some women come in quest of Singapore dollars -- by becoming the mistresses of married Singaporean men.

Susan (an alias), an attractive woman of 26, hails from Medan, North Sumatra, and lives adequately by being the mistress of a 40-year-old Singaporean.

The man has bought her a house measuring 90 sqm by 120 sqm in a luxurious Batam housing complex. He also gives her a monthly allowance of Rp 5 million (US$600.00), as well as gifts of clothes and jewelry.

"It's very hard to make any money illicitly, let alone rightfully. By becoming a mistress, I acknowledge I'm committing adultery and I know it's very sinful, but I have done it many times before, but now I'm with only one man. I can send money to my mother and siblings back home in Medan," she told The Jakarta Post recently.

She added that she had worked previously as a sex worker in one of the karaoke clubs in Nagoya district, Batam.

When she met Chen (an alias), he suggested that she leave the club and become his mistress.

Chen even paid her pimp Rp 4 million to procure her independence and redeem her debts, on condition that she become his mistress. She accepted.

"We are living together in an extramarital affair. I don't know how long I'll do this, perhaps until I'm able to cover all my expenses by myself," she said.

Susan arrived in Batam in 1999, and was unwittingly "sold" by an acquaintance in 2000 to a karaoke club-cum-brothel. Four months later, she met Chen. It has now been four years since then.

She confessed she had no major problems in her relationship with Chen. "I only see him two days a week. It's been all right, although we quarrel often and even split up once -- but we got back together."

It is a common social phenomenon in Batam that local women become mistresses to Singaporean men -- from the lower-middle to even the upper classes, and the men may be taxi drivers or low- ranking officials, professionals or a high-ranking corporate executive.

The status of the man is often defined by the provisions he makes for his mistress: For example, if the woman lives in a boarding house or a Rp 1 million a month house, it is understood that her partner is from the working class. A mid-level executive, like Susan's partner, will provide a relatively better accommodation for his mistress, whether leased or bought.

It is also common knowledge that a mistress of a CEO or other upper-level executive would be provided a lavish accommodation and lifestyle in elite residential areas such as Duta Mas, Anggrek Mas, Suka Jadi or Center Point and be driven around in BMWs or other luxury cars. Such high-class mistresses would also be given capital to start businesses such as beauty salons, boutiques and cafes.

Some mistresses are "married", but such unions do not produce marriage certificates.

Many believe the practice is widespread in Batam, but no exact figures are available as to how many Indonesian women have become mistresses to Singaporean men.

Nevertheless, the practice has drawn much criticism from various local figures, including a woman activist. They judged the practice inappropriate and said it violated cultural norms.

"The government has to take stern measures against people who live together out of wedlock," said Evianora Azwar, a local woman activist.

Such is the case of Tania (an alias). As with Susan, she left the life of a sex worker at a karaoke club in Nagoya district to become the mistress of Singaporean Wong (an alias), who put her up at a small hotel.

"I only see him once a week. I have to greet him at the Batam Center ferry terminal whenever he comes. He doesn't give me much money, only enough for food and a small allowance," she said.

The Bandung woman said she received "only S$200 a week", or Rp 1,100,000 -- still a hefty sum compared to the Rp 600,000 minimum wage in Batam.

When her partner returns to Singapore, however, Tania said she would get in touch with her local partner.