Is Jakarta a Law Abiding Town?

Jakarta, Inako

Animals living in the jungle have unwritten rules called Law of the Jungle where the strongest survive. Unlike animals, humans have established written laws as a guideline of behavior so we all can live in peace and harmony.

However, in Jakarta, we frequently see these laws being broken. The sight of motorcyclists driving against the flow of traffic, and making illegal U-turns becomes the norm. Cars also sneak into TransJakarta bus lanes, and park on the pavements . Buses running red lights that result in accidents. Not only on the road, there’s also flooding caused by people who recklessly litter.

[caption id="attachment_17390" align="alignnone" width="451"] Parking on Pedestrian Sidewalk [ist][/caption]Jakarta still has discipline problems that need to be addressed. What causes this behavior? It’s a lack of sense of duty and respect towards the law. It’s the mentality of the people that needs to be repaired.

Johannes Frederik Warouw, an urban sociologist says, “Officials need to show the people that to make Indonesia a better nation, we must all obey the formal, written laws. Society has to change its mind-set by listening and looking at its surroundings and understanding that there need to be a change for the better.”