Some remain on the job to keep the city functioning at 'Lebaran'

Some remain on the job to keep the city functioning at 'Lebaran'

Emmy Fitri, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Supendi's heart was broken when his youngest daughter asked
for an oleh-oleh (a gift) as he was leaving his rented house in
the Cempaka Putih area of Central Jakarta to sweep the streets of
Jakarta on the Eve of Idul Fitri.

"What kind of a gift could I afford to give her as I am only a
street sweeper. I already felt guilty for not taking my family
home to our village in Cirebon this year," Supendi, 46, lamented.

With a monthly salary of Rp 300,000, obviously under the
regional minimum wage, Supendi, 46, and his family still felt
that Idul Fitri was an event that could not be missed -- a break
from the usual routine days.

"Working on Idul Fitri Eve means additional income for me as I
will get overtime pay. But, also as a matter of fact, it is my
turn to work," he said.

He would only be able to enjoy the holiday on Tuesday when he
planned to visit relatives and friends to ask for forgiveness,
the Muslim tradition for Idul Fitri.

Supendi was on Jalan Sudirman in Central Jakarta in the early
hours of Sunday morning. He had left his house at around 10 p.m.
Saturday night, and planned to be home before the Idul Fitri
prayer.

Jakarta's streets were blanketed with all manner of debris
caused by the hundreds of thousands of firecrackers let off on
Saturday night by thousands of revelers.

"The streets have to be cleaned before people leave their
homes to perform the morning Idul Fitri prayer," he said proudly.

Supendi was among those who could not be with their families
and relatives during the Idul Fitri holidays because of duty
calls or situations that could not allow them to do so.

A fire fighter, Sunaryo also spent the first day of Idul Fitri
at his firehouse in Central Jakarta. His duty was to be on-call
and to stay alert all night.

"There was only a minor fire and after that we (fellow
firemen) just played cards all night long to stay awake," he said
on Monday morning, adding that it was not the first time that he
was unable to spend Idul Fitri with his family.

"My family has grown accustomed to it, and never complained
about my work," Sunaryo said.

Other professions, such as paramedics, train operators,
security personnel and toll booth guards, also must work and stay
alert to keep Idul Fitri peaceful.

A volunteer paramedic with the Indonesian Red-Cross (PMI) Dodo
also said this year's Idul Fitri was not the first time that he
had to be away from his parents and his siblings.

But he enjoyed himself as he found it more fun to celebrate
with friends outside his house, "It's hard to explain but it is
also fun, merrier with friends."

Posted at the busy Senen railway station, Dodo, along with his
five friends must be on continuous standby to give first aid to
people suffering from illness at the crowded station, bound for
their hometowns to celebrate the holidays.

"I can always celebrate with my family after my duty ends,"
said the young man, who would return home on the second day of
Idul Fitri.