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hirst and hunger aren’t the biggest challenges for Muslim police officers who are striving to fulfill religious obligations during Ramadan. It’s anger management.

“I do not have any problem in handling my thirst or hunger when I am on field duty. The biggest problem is controlling my anger when facing careless motorists in the city,” First Brig. Abu David told The Jakarta Post recently.

The 24-year-old traffic police officer is usually on duty on several of the city’s streets, such as Jl. Gajah Mada in Central Jakarta, Jl. Gatot Subroto and Jl. Sudirman in South Jakarta.

“Every day, traffic in the city usually goes crazy during rush hour. I need extra patience during Ramadan to deal with motorists at peak times. If I get angry, my fasting will fail,” Abu said.

He described an incident last week when a motorist in a fancy car shouted to him, saying that the police were stupid for being unable to control the traffic.

“I could have pulled him over and ticketed him for insulting an officer, but I let him go,” he said, adding that he often encountered rude motorists.

“I just maintain positive thinking. Maybe they are worried about being late to break their fasts,” he said, adding that, so far, his own fasting has been going well.

First Brig. Maman Suparna agreed with Abu, saying that the biggest challenge in keeping his fast was from members of the public who provoked him.

“I must deal with people who curse and say harsh words to me. Sometimes I feel like my emotions are going to burst but, thank God, I can still keep control and, somehow, stay cool,” the 24-year-old city security unit patrol officer said.

Maman said he hoped he could continue to keep things in balance during Ramadan, because fasting was one of the five pillars of Islam.

Exercise activities in Maman’s unit were reduced by 30 percent during Ramadan to accommodate the Muslim police officers, he said. “God willing, I can continue my fasting without any problem,” he added.

Unlike Maman and Abu, Chief Brig. Ahmad Handranda, 30, a traffic police officer near the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle, said hot weather was his biggest challenge.

“I have failed to fast several times in the past week because I could not handle my thirst,” he told the Post.

Some of his friends also complained about the same things, he added. “They just can’t stand the heat. We are people who work under the sun, so I think it’s understandable if we often break our fast before maghrib,” he added, referring to the late afternoon prayers when Muslims break their fasts.

Chief Brig. Joko, not his real name, was eating in a small food stall near city police headquarters when the Post spotted him.

At first, Joko claimed he was a Christian.

“I woke up late this morning because I had the night shift,” he said, while finishing his meal of steamed vegetables in coconut sauce.

“No motorist has tried to bribe me during Ramadan so far. I’m not sure I can handle the temptation if they tried to bribe me when they are violating the rules,” he said, laughing.

He added, “I guess it’s just hard for us to fast during Ramadan due to our activities.”

Muslim intellectual Azyumardi Azra said it was understandable that field workers (known in Islam as rukhsah) such as police officers were often unable to fast due to their duties.

“According to Islamic law, they must repay their failure by fasting on other days [before the next Ramadan],” he said in a text message sent to the Post. (rch)