Security guards get meager bonuses
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
While many merrily traveled out of the city to celebrate the long holiday, a few tough guys were left behind. They stay awake day and night to secure housing complexes: They are Hansip (community guards).
Ironically, however, most of them only receive meager tips from residents compared to the heightened risks they face during the holiday.
An estimated 2.11 million Jakartans left the capital to celebrate Idul Fitri in their hometowns as part of the tradition of mudik (exodus). Most people are enjoying a nine-day holiday, since Nov. 22 to Nov. 30, with many returning to the city on Saturday and Sunday.
"My holiday bonus is half that of previous years, only Rp 400,000 (US$47) from Rp 800,000," said Royani, 40, a community guard on Jl. Raya Kelapa Lilin, Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta.
The residents of the upmarket housing complex refused to give community guards a higher holiday bonus, claiming that they were broke due to sluggish business.
He said that he, along with 31 other community guards, worked 12-hour shifts to safeguard the vast complex of around 600 houses.
Royani's salary amounts to around Rp 600,000 a month, collected from residents.
For Sarkap, 35, a community guard on Jl. Kayu Manis, East Jakarta, two cans of crackers and some scant tips from the residents were his only bonus this year.
He said that some residents gave him tips of between Rp 5,000 and Rp 20,000.
"I feel grateful, however, that there are some generous residents who take pity on us when they see us guarding their homes on rainy days," he said.
Sarkap said his salary was only Rp 180,000 a month.
Meanwhile, his friend, Papak, 61, said community guards worked harder during the holiday, because burglars often targeted empty houses.
"Unfortunately, only a few residents have informed us of their plans to travel out of town. We ourselves have to identify which houses are abandoned, that really complicates our jobs," he grumbled.
City Police acting spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Eddi Ihwanto lamented that the public was barely aware of their community guard's woes.
"People think of (the significance of) their community guards only when they are in trouble," he said.
Eddi said that people must alter their perspective of community guards.
"The public must start thinking of security as an investment, rather than worrying about immediate costs. Higher salaries for community guards will surely result in tighter security," he said.
Police have admitted that they were unable to uphold security in the capital because of the sheer size and lack of officers.
There are officially 20,895 police personnel who have to cover Greater Jakarta, including Tangerang, Depok and Bekasi, with a total population of more than 18 million.
Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Makbul Padmanagara had earlier said that the police were deploying around 12,000 personnel to ensure security in the capital under operation code-named Ketupat Lilin 2003 (named after the compressed rice-cakes traditionally eaten at Idul Fitri and candle that represents Christmas).
In addition to the number of Hansip totaling 10,190 citywide, the capital also has 2,855 civilian police (PPNS), 72,579 security guards (Satpam) and 6,000 public order officers.