Parcel business slow as officials asked not to accept gratuities

Dewi Santoso, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

The anticorruption call made by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) ahead of Idul Fitri has proven effective, and the city's parcel business is slowing down, even as New Year nears.

The KPK had called on state officials to refrain from receiving gifts and parcels in an effort to combat bribery.

Sulaeman Tantowi, owner of the Soel One parcel shop on Jl. H. Samali in Kalibata, South Jakarta, said the KPK's call had hurt the business.

He said he usually sold around 1,000 parcels during the Idul Fitri, Christmas and New Year holidays.

"Until today, I've been able to sell only 300 parcels. This year, I'd be lucky if I could sell 500 ... the break-even point," said Sulaeman, who began the parcel business in the mid-1990s.

He said unlike last year, when many government officials placed orders for parcels, this year, orders were mostly coming in from private companies and individuals.

"The best-selling parcels are the ones with Bohemian crystal glasses," said Sulaeman. A parcel could range from Rp 900,000 (US$97.82) to Rp 2.5 million each.

Another parcel shop owner, Pako, said he had only sold about 200 parcels as of Tuesday.

"Normally, a week before New Year, business is crazy with people ordering hundreds of parcels. I usually sell around 500 parcels."

Pako sells parcels from Rp 250,000 to Rp 500,000 each, and his customers this year were mostly individuals, not corporations or officials.

Parcel shops in Cikini, Central Jakarta, have also seen a slump in business.

"I'm not expecting huge sales, now. I only hope to sell 100 more parcels -- just so I can break even and my business won't suffer a loss," said Farida, proprietress of the Cahaya parcel shop.

She also said that her parcels, which sell for Rp 350,000 to Rp 750,000 each, were mostly picked up by private companies and individuals.

"Last year around this time, I sold about 700 parcels. But things are getting worse this year. It's only three days until New Year and I've only managed to sell 300 parcels, all because of this letter," she said, showing a KPK circular strongly urging state officials not to send or receive parcels.