Another interesting sight you can see in Indonesia is that almost all malls and apartments have security guarding the entrance, gate and walkway. Very often, there will be security counters setup to check on you, your bags, packages and vehicles.
Your car will never get near any mall without stopping for a check. And the guards are equipped with sensor to check if your vehicle is loaded with C4 explosives.
When you enter the shoppimg mall, around every corner and every level, you will see security guards patroling.
Excessive security measures everywhere. You soon find yourself asking if these are necessary?
The answer is yes. Leaving poverty problems and dangerous night streets aside, Indonesia have a few infamous dramas strapped around it’s waist.
1) The demonic riot against the minorities in 1998.
2) The 2003 Marriott Hotel bombing.
3) The 2004 Australian embassy bombing in Jakarta.
4) The 2002 and 2005 Bali bombing.
Once bitten, twice shy. Soon security became the hottest industry in Indonesia and my first two paragraphs are the results of these bombing.
So the question is, does all these measures made you feel more confident?
If your answer is yes, read on!
A month ago I had managed to smuggle in a hammer into Pacific Place without security guards asking me a single question.
The worst thing is, I never specifically hide it. It was inside my bag and it just went thru the scanner. The guard operating the scanner was not even looking at the computer screen when my bag pass thru it.
No signal, no alarm. Most importantly, no dedication in their work. Even their greetings are monotones.
Senayan City was better, especially in vehicles checks. However, entrance checks are equally worst. They don’t stop you if the sensor beep when you pass thru (though same goes to every mall), they merely pass your bag over to you without checking it’s content.
Easily another bag of C4 explosive to be planted in the washrooms of each level.
I tried on Grand Indonesia on a weekend, armed with a big toolbox, loaded with pen-kives, I’m talking about big pen-knives here. Together with copperwires and wirecutters.
Guess what? I walked thru the guard post like nobody business!! I tried to look as suspicious as I can, yet no guard ask me to open my toolbox and check the content in it.
Again, could have easily been another container of explosive.
Of course I do not have any intention of bombing any building. Just to highlight the interesting fact that the security dedications are still so bad despite the colorful history this country has with terrorism.
Below is a photo I took of a guard post which is located in Sarinah McDonald. Human traffic were heavy, but the funny thing is though the guard post was there, there isn’t any guard. And almost everyone who walked past the sensor detactor had triggered the alarm.
No one seems to care.
