Security and related devices central in our lives

Security and related devices central in our lives

Burhanuddin Abe
Contributor
Jakarta

The horrors of last year's bombings in Bali, followed by the
JW Marriot Hotel blast in Jakarta a few months ago, have
drastically changed our perception on security.

These events serve as examples that security has indeed become
a luxury item and is now a top priority for everyone.

Terrorists and terrorism are real threats in our daily lives
more than ever. Often existing elusively, like unbeatable ghosts,
they even defy efforts to precisely define them. No less than
United States President George W. Bush has consistently warned
the world about these ruthless enemies of the human race. His and
other leaders' warnings on this matter have turned into our daily
mantra.

With the heightened fear, many people, especially the VIPs,
have resorted to various sophisticated security equipment, in
addition to bodyguards, for protection. Even entering places like
hotels, malls and certain offices is becoming more tedious, with
the presence of safety equipment like metal detectors that only
used to be found at airports. Strict vehicle inspections at these
places is now also commonplace.

The demand for security equipment is also high in Indonesia's
major cities, like Jakarta, Surabaya, Bandung, Medan, Semarang
and other provincial capitals.

"In these terrifying times, it is understandable that people
need to protect themselves. Security equipment and systems are
some of the ways to anticipate any kind of scenario, even the
worst," said Baidlowi, marketing and operations director of PT
Asa Karya Multiguna.

The company, located at the Grand Wijaya Center in South
Jakarta, is one of the major distributors of security systems and
equipment. Compared with about six or seven years ago, when its
sales figures were just average with clients like the country's
armed forces and the police or some other governmental
institutions, today, with orders from private companies and even
individuals, the company sales have skyrocketed.

He said the best sellers were the hand-held metal detectors,
as they are easy to use and not harmful to humans, animals or
plants. The mirror-like devices for vehicle inspections are also
selling well.

Other security items in high demand are bullet-proof vests,
9mm handguns that use rubber bullets and walk-through metal
detectors. This last item, costing between Rp 37 million and Rp
40 million (about US$4,700) , used to be found only at airports
and seaports but is now standard equipment at numerous banks,
sports stadiums, hospitals, hotels, courts and government
offices.

Sales of security equipment, compared to last year, have gone
up worldwide about 9 percent, as reported by the American Society
for Industrial Security. The investigation and IT security
sectors have enjoyed the largest portion of these sales.

Meanwhile, PT Datascrip, which specializes in office
equipment, has recently added security-related gadgets to its
line. Kun Setiono, marketing manager for the stationery and
office automation division, said its products that integrate
security systems for office use were in answer to customer
demand.

One example of its security-related products is the latest
machines, based on fingerprint, used for office employees to
punch in. This gadget not only controls the presence of employees
but also functions as a security device.

Kun Setiono said that today's requirement for security in
business circles is greater. Therefore, the company makes
available, for this urgent and "unnegotiable" need, relevant
products that assist companies against negligence, theft or any
other negative intentions, such as secure fingerprinting, secure
money counting, safe, secure computer data, paper shredders and
so forth. All this means that security, now far reaching, is no
longer a matter that concerns only buildings or the people within
them.

Security products from China are also available at PT
Datascrip. One is the Secure F-1 SmartOffice Professional
Edition, a compact fingerprint identification device that
accommodates the relevant needs of business offices.

From Korea comes the Secure M-100 and Secure M-200, also smart
fingerprint identification systems that control the presence of
employees as well as access to confidential areas in offices.
Today's sophisticated gadgets are cost savers in the long run
compared to the older punch cards. They are also uncheatable.

PT Datascrip, which was established in 1969, is one of the
most complete suppliers of a wide range of products for office
needs, such as computer peripherals, stationery, office
equipment, furniture, filing, CAD and surveying systems,
multimedia presentation devices, Enterprise Resource Planning
(ERP) solution systems and many others.

PT Datascrip stands as one among the most active companies
that has foreseen and anticipated the need of security related
products here. With today's increase in the number of banks,
hotels, Automated Teller Machines and a huge number of places
that require security devices, this particular business is
booming.

Given the situation, security and related devices, albeit
costly and perhaps troublesome to a certain extent, are standard
equipment almost everywhere. Like it or not, they are now part of
our lives.