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.