Security guards get meager bonuses

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.