Beating a Pickpocket’s Game

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2013/07/27/citizen-journalism-beating-pickpocket-game.html

A pickpocket? Well, who hasn’t met one on a very typical day in the streets of Jakarta, in particular, in public transport? Living in this metropolitan for more than a decade now, I find the city very "dangerous" in terms of petty theft. Purse-snatching and pick pocketing are rampant in public spaces. Beware and stay alert!


Using public transportation is simply emotionally draining and physically exhausting in this big city if you know what I mean. It’s fiercer than any reality show challenges on TV. It's as harder as crossing a bridge of fire, lol.

I believe commuters share the same experience with me related to pickpockets, a very typical day on the streets of Jakarta. Relief to be free from the overcrowded commuter train this morning, I had to dash out to catch metromini (public bus). For Jakartans, Metromini is inseparable with the hustle bustle of the hectic city. Renowned for their distinctive orange color, scraps of metal hanging from them and cracked passenger windows, these public buses are cheap and incredibly fast on any given day, well, except off course when they are not trapped in the worst traffic congestion. They are also notorious to pick passengers up all along their route and drop them off anywhere, usually without stopping.

So passengers jump on and off the Metro mini, often in the middle of the busy road. Oh yeah, it’s really dangerous, isn’t it? Jumping off from a moving bus? Well… what can I say, that’s what I experience daily. Life is tough! Being accidentally kicked, elbowed, or trampled is nothing new to me. As much as I am horrified to kick, elbow, or trample others by accident, there’s nothing I could do whenever I take these public transport.

It’s like survival of the fittest. Face it and just deal with it.

As if it’s not enough racing my life with these irresponsible buses, I also have to stay vigilant at all time. Pickpockets are in every nook and corner. I was alerted when a lanky man with a tidy outfit orchestrated an odd movement when a lady tried to get off at Bundaran HI bus stop. Another man stood right in the door, blocking her way. Instantly, my radar picked up the blaring alarm. There were four of them. Beneath their neat dress, I could not help noticing malice. A team of pickpockets!

Getting her way out, the lady screamed and yelled “Copet!” (pickpocket) over and over again until the bus drove away. Those men sternly ordered the driver to keep on driving. They moved to the backseats. I clutched my bag tighter. My heart hammered in my chest. I noticed there were only four female passengers left and one man. We instinctively moved forward, and huddled close. It’s safer to be together than alone.

We stared at each other wide eyed, alerting one another of the danger. Luckily, the odd was still in our favor. These thugs got off the bus when it reached Sarinah bus stop. We all exhaled in relief. It’s the longest five minutes ride ever! We survived another commute.

Learning from experience, here are some tips that might help you avoid pickpockets from ruining your day.

First, carry your bag across you chest or under your arm and slightly in front of you. It is absolutely non negotiable to keep your purse and its openings under your elbow, and not at the back. Avoid zipper in the back because it will make someone behind you easier to unzip it and make off with its contents. You don't have eyes in the back of our heads, ladies, so keep your purse where you can see it.

Second, never rummage your wallet or count money in public. It’s like flaunting your cash for the whole world to see. It’s like sweet nectar for pickpockets. Thus, it’s wiser to prepare your small change in advance before getting on any public vehicle. The policy applies to using your fancy gadget in public, be it smart phones or any other devices.

Third, always stay alert and focus. Some pickpockets work in teams by premeditating ways in which to distract you. For example, one guy would tap at your back, pretending brushing off the ash emanating from his cigarette, while another reaches into your back pocket for your wallet and hands it to the third guy. 

Fourth, only carry what you need, bringing only the essentials. Don’t have anything more in your wallet than you are willing to lose. Don’t wear any fancy jewelry or items that might easily lure unwanted attention. Last but not the least, scan your surrounding carefully. Men with tidy outfit with perhaps a tinge of cologne or so, as if ready ready for work, are not always what they appear to be. If you pay close attention, often you can see something out of place about them, then your radar will scream for an alert!A gang of pickpockets!

Beware .... And may the odds be ever in your favor.

Ramadan Spirit: Jihad to Promote Love, Peace and Tolerance

As religious intolerance and sectarian violence continue to plague our nation, Muslims around the world, including in Indonesia, are preparing themselves to welcome the most awaited and anticipated Fasting Month. It is time for us all to reflect and contemplate the significance of this annual ritual at heart.


Within this most sacred and auspicious moment, we have to brace ourselves into a voyage of change for the better. Have we put this ritual concept altogether with its social aspects? Do we still succumb to the false belief that Islam is a religion of sword, garbed with violence and intolerance by reinforcing this misleading interpretation into practice?

After all, fasting is all about faith, family, love and one form of the greatest jihad.

Jihad? You might immediately suffer a short circuit in your brain hearing the word as if it was a close symbol of intolerance and violence. I know what you will be thinking; jihad as in wielding your swords against the infidels? Hacking around those who profess to another faith or those who opine differently? Or worse bombing innocent people to save the moral of the ummah (community) as in terrorism?

Sadly as it might seem, it’s hard to blame those who come to think in such a way. With the increasing violence and intolerance in the name of Islam spread all over the news coverage, it is hard to deny the fact that Islam has many bad ambassadors. Proclaiming as pious and devout followers, these shallow-minded ambassadors have ruined the face of the peaceful religion. The enemies most often come from within.

Jihad is probably one of the most misunderstood and abused aspects of Islam. These bad ambassadors exploit, misinterpret and misuse this concept for their own personal gains and political objectives. They twisted verses to suit their own interests. The price goes higher to the highest bidder.

Instead of promoting peace and tolerance as required, their twisted and enforced truth proliferate hatred and blind fanaticism. Accordingly, these reinforce the misleading concept of Islam. They breed, nurture and support terrorism to mushrooming.

Not only did the terrorists bomb public places and destroy life, but they also hijacked the peaceful religion of Islam.

Suffice to say that it is greatly important to revisit the true meaning of Jihad in this approaching holy month of Ramadan so that ummah can promote love, compassion, mercy, peace and tolerance as prescribed by Islamic teachings.

Jihad is never a tool of waging war against the innocents as Islam value the sanctity of human life as well as condemns violence.
“…if any one slew a person - unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land - it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people.” (Al- Quran 5:32)

Jihad is never a means of flexing the muscles or bullying the weak and oppressed. It is something unique that is established to defend the divine message from being eliminated or hindered by its enemies. Any act that is in compliance with the commandments of Allah; through any means and in any field be it material or moral is jihad.

In its simple forms, jihad can be manifested in an act as petty as helping a blind person to cross the street regardless of their faith, culture, or race; to defending life, property or honor.

It is narrated that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) visited and fed a blind Jewish beggar in the corner marketplace of Madinah each morning daily despite the constant scold and curses the old man threw upon him.

Even then, the blessed Messenger (peace be upon him) did not get angry and ignored the insults against himself. Without saying a single word, he would feed the beggar with his own hand without fail till the day he died. Throughout his service, he never identified himself to the blind Jewish beggar.

Isn’t a lovely example of love, compassion, peace and tolerance?

So, why on earth many of us still dwell on hatred and intolerance against others? Why kicking out our brothers and sisters from their homes and inciting violence under the label of Shia or Sunni or any other label? Why forbidding and destroying the house of worship just because they have different faith? These are against the core values of Islamic teachings.

It is also noteworthy to say that the greatest jihad, or struggle, of our lives is not the one that takes place on a battlefield, but the one that takes place within our hearts — a self struggle from all worldly temptations to increase self-discipline and become a better person such as fasting during Ramadan.

It is prescribed that the the purpose of fasting during Ramadan is not merely abstinence from food and drink, but also a high art to learn to restraint ourselves from from inner lustful desires.

That is to say that all the organs of the body must be in a state of fasting from head to toe. The fast of the eyes is not to look at what is forbidden; the fast of the tongue is not to lie and slander and likewise, every organ must stay away from wrong.

Thus, fasting is not simply to hunger pangs that many unfortunate people involuntarily experience year-round but it also to bring oneself closer to taqwa: a state of sincerity, discipline, generosity, and surrender to Allah.

The experience will connect us with the less fortunate, humble ourselves, and breed love, compassion, tolerance and mercy. In this month of peace and love, individuals are encouraged to bury differences, to forget and forgive and to renew both human and spiritual relationships.

So, to all my fellow brothers and sisters, let us all wage our jihad in this coming Ramadan to promote love, peace and tolerance. It is our crusade in the highest form of jihad that takes place within our hearts, and then translates these spiritual journeys into practice to be a better person.

A Girl with Books

I was deeply touched and moved hearing the speech of Malala Yousafzai at the United Nations headquarters last week. Shot to the head at point blank range, she has survived against all odds. Despite her ordeal, she is still the same remarkable Malala the world knew. Despite the atrocities inflicted on her, she forgives and loves her tormentors. The bullet failed to silence her. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5X70VyjU0g


Her voice amplifies the plight for women education to achieve brighter future, equality and freedom. Her voice is joined by a chorus of millions more to condemn violence and terrorism targeting women, to call upon world leaders and government to ensure girls’ education and women’ rights.

She sees education as the key to help women gain their dignity, rights and independence. It is also the best antidote for poverty, ignorance and terrorism. For that reason, she constantly struggles to pursue education despite the life threatening terrors she receives from the sickening bigots. Her speech to earmark her 16th birthday is part of her campaign to ensure free compulsory education for every child.

Reading the speech transcript later on, I still could feel a gore in my being. I still could feel the fire in her words, a tidal wave of exceptional passions to fight against injustice, prejudice, and ignorance inflicted on women, barring them to taste proper education. I could feel the presence of tremendous courage and bravery resonating within each word she said. http://www.punchng.com/news/the-full-text-of-malala-yousafzais-speech-at-the-united-nations/

Perhaps, I could never feel the terrible hardship Malala and the girls in her region had to endure. Perhaps, I am luckier than those girls to ever get my education easy and taking it for granted. The only barrier I had along with many in this nation is economic hurdles to enroll into schools.

Perhaps, I am even luckier not having extremists lurking around with guns pointed to my head and said “Education is not for a girl. Your job is only in kitchen and bed.” This is just so outrageously demeaning and degrading.

Even to my utmost liberal thinking, I still don’t see any justification why these extremists deny women an education. Why are they so terrified with a girl with a book? On what grounds, they could ever think that knowledge might sow seeds of evils in women?

Well….. The only craziest explanation popped in my head is that perhaps they are scared to death with girls going for school because these girls might rob them their jobs and brain. Or perhaps they are just having malnourished and poor soul that they put great efforts to hide them behind the mask of a religion.

What a bizarre ridiculous idea to believe that shooting innocent girls is much more noble than eradicating illiteracy among girls. There must something wrong with their heads. May be they have totally been brainwashed by evil chauvinistic aliens, lol.

What an idiotic way of thinking to believe any society, city, or nation can flourish and thrive by relying solely on the male counterparts and excluding the females or vice versa. If they can prove it otherwise, well, perhaps they can build their own empire of male extremists. Let’s see where such absurdity will lead!

A bird can never fly with only one wing. If the other wing is crippled, maimed, or amputated, it will directly plunge to the earth and die horribly. It is as simple as that. To survive, flourish and thrive men and women in any society should work hand in hand, as equal partners. There’ll never be a future without equality.

To deny women from education is simply an unspeakable crime and an act of mass suicide. It is as if you set the world to crumble on purpose. Imagining a girl without books is to imagine a world without thought, a world without feeling, compassion, history, or voice.

For that reason, let us pick up our books and pens as these are the most powerful weapons of all just like Malala said “One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world. Education is the only solution.”

Hitch & Glitch on the New E-Ticketing System

Today, the single and multi trip e-ticketing system with the new distance-based fares have been implemented in all stations in Jabodetabek. The new system aims to reduce long queues in front of ticket counters during peak periods and attract more passengers.


In anticipation, I came earlier than usual and already bought the multi trip-e-ticket of Rp. 50,000 the day before. Hence, I was lucky to be spared from the hitch and glitch of the new system. Thanks God indeed!

Arriving at the station, I saw long snaking queues of commuter train passengers in Depok Lama Station. Everyone seemed anxious as well as excited for the new fare.

A middle-aged man in worn-T-shirt wiped away beads of sweat from his forehead. He suddenly smiled. His eyes beamed with relief. He paid the ticket, and scurried away to the platform.

In reflex, my gaze darted to the source of joy, the new price board. To my amazement, my train fare would drop as much as 60 percent. With the new rates, I only need to pay Rp 3,500 for a one-way trip from Depok Baru Station to Sudirman Station and vice versa instead of the usual flat rate of Rp 8,000 for one way trip.

Alas, the excitement was short- lived.

To the dismay of many, the long queue worsened within minutes. It became nightmarish as the rushing passengers got impatient to wait in such a long winding line. They were not yet accustomed to the new ticketing system.

To make matters worse, technical glitches hit an economy-class train resulted in schedules disruption. The commotion peaked into resentment as hundreds left stranded for hours just to get to their office. In frustration, some screamed in protest and ditched the scene, looking for alternative transport.

Arriving at office, one of my colleagues complained he had to to waste 45 minutes just to get the e-ticket. He was also forced to stand for about an hour and a half in the overcrowded train due to disrupted schedule.

“So much for a timely schedule! It’s so horrible.” He slumped tiredly at his desk.

I witnessed the same commotion on my way home from Tanah Abang Station. Passengers were cramped in snaking queues in front of the ticket booths even up to the outside of the area.

The scene was an ocean of fatigue and confused human. Those who sought the way in and out would have to endure hours of struggle. It was a total havoc.

Despite the socialization and trial of the electronic tickets, passengers and officers alike were still mystified by the new system.

This new pricing system has set progressive rates, applying different-price tickets depending on the distance. It receives government subsidies through a public service obligation (PSO) funding so that the price is much lower than the previous flat system.

The ticket price for the first five stations costs only Rp 2,000 and an additional of Rp 500 for the next three stations.

As a result, the new fare has lured more passengers. Coincidently, it is applied after the government has increased the fuel price. As of now, compared to any other transportation, KRL is much cheaper and faster.

The surge of the passengers coupled with the slowness of the ticketing machines and the unaccustomed passengers of the new system has created horrendous and nightmarish long queue either in and out of the station. It is much longer than anticipated.

Drenched in sweats, my colleague smiled sourly.

“Well, the fare is cheaper now. Thanks God! I only wish that the queue will get better as time goes on.”

I abruptly added, “And the regular KRL disruptions will not take place too often with all the old excuses of power or signal problem!”

He grinned in agreement.

Well… We are thankful that the fare is much cheaper now. Yet, the new system could very well be useless if trains are continually late due to regular disruptions.

What’s more, nobody wants to stand in line for hours in a hellish queue every single day. The passengers themselves should adjust to the new system and learn how to queue orderly.