Residents in need of public services wait until holiday is over

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(Antara/Reno Esnir)

Residents who stay in the city during the Idul Fitri holidays usually get to enjoy empty roads, as millions of Jakartans return to their hometowns to celebrate the holidays.

They may also enjoy the shows and discounts provided by tourist attractions and shopping malls throughout the city. But the citizens will not be enjoying the limited public services in the city, as most of the staff of public service operators take days off over the holiday period.

So, if the water suddenly stops running when you are taking a shower, or your Internet connection suddenly disconnects, then it may be better for you to knock on your neighbor’s door to borrow their bathroom, or go to an Internet cafe, instead of waiting for assistance.

Rudi Jonathan, 24, said that he had been trying since last week to get his home Internet service repaired by state-owned telecommunications company PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Telkom), but to no avail.

“My Telkom Speedy Internet service died for a week, and I’ve already called the company twice. But they told me to wait because most of their staff were on holiday,” he said on Tuesday, adding that he could not visit the company’s service centers because all of them were closed from Aug. 17 until Aug. 24.

While the service centers were closed, Telkom said that its call center was still operating 24/7 throughout the holiday. Furthermore, the company also postponed the deadline for bill payment until Aug. 24 to facilitate customers who cannot pay their bills because they are on holiday, said Galih, a staff member of the company’s call center.

Besides Telkom, tap water operator PT PAM Lyonnaise Jaya (Palyja), which serves the city’s western side, also said that most of its technicians and repairmen were on holiday until Aug. 26.

Therefore, customers might have difficulties in getting repair services during the holiday, said Karma, one of the company’s call center operators. Customers could, however, still get administrative tasks, such as bill payments, done through the company’s call center, which operates around the clock throughout the holiday, according to Karma. He said that Palyja’s offices were closed from Aug. 17 until Aug. 24.

State electricity company PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN), said that its offices were closed from Aug. 18 to Aug. 23.

But just like Palyja’s customers, PLN’s could still pay their electricity bills through ATMs, or by calling its call center, said Tiwi, one of the company’s call center employees.

Other public services in the city such as fire services, public transportation and health services were still operating as usual during the holiday.

The fire department, for example, has deployed officials to monitor 53 identified areas across the five municipalities known for the fire incidents, including Tambora and Pademangan in West Jakarta; Penjaringan and Cilincing in North Jakarta; and Cipinang and Cakung in East Jakarta.

Six city-owned municipal hospitals and 44 district-level public health centers also remained open 24-hours a day throughout the holidays. Only subdistrict-level public health centers were closed for the two-day Idul Fitri holidays.

Although they remain available, the Jakarta administration will only be back in full service mode on Thursday.

City Employment Agency had given civil servants five days off for the Idul Fitri holidays, that is, from Saturday to Thursday.

They, however, were not allowed to use their annual leave to extend their holidays, unless for medical reasons.

Agency head Budhiastuti said on Tuesday that the administration would investigate any absences on Thursday.

“Civil servants who fail to show up at work on Thursday without valid reasons will be given penalties,” she said.

Public services were already reduced after civil workers working hours were reduced by one and a half hours during the Ramadhan fasting month in order to give them more time for religious activities. (han)