Clean campaign enlist mime artists

Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang | Sat, 12/27/2008 10:55 AM  

While there have been attempts to punish people for smoking and littering around Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, a mime show speaks loudest. 

As part of its Clean Airport Action (CAA) program, airport operator PT Angkasa Pura II presented pantomime show at its terminals Wednesday to educate visitors to abide by the rules. 

Three students from the University of Indonesia's School of Social and Political Sciences -- Imre, Pia and Rio -- strolled around the airport eying off any wrongdoings. 

They also carried a golden-colored bag containing snacks to be given out as gifts to anyone following their instructions after being caught smoking. 

The three students started the show by approaching a man who was smoking in the crowd at Terminal 1A. In gestures, they asked the man to put out the cigarette and throw it into the nearest trash can. 

At first the man continued smoking. 

But the students did not give up easily. They repeated the request, while displaying a message written on a styrofoam board that smoking was bad for health. 

Maswani, 50, a civil servant from Kudus regency, East Java, finally did what the students wanted him to do. He walked to the trash can and put out the cigarette. He received his snack gift. 

"I understood what they meant from the beginning, but I had just lit my cigarette and it would be a waste to put it out before I could enjoy it," he said sheepishly. 

However, Maswani said he agreed and supported the move because the pantomime show was effective enough to raise awareness of the clean airport campaign while entertaining people at the same time. 

"So far we have succeeded in moving people, but it's difficult to make people understand the gestures we are using so they can do what we ask them to do," Imre told The Jakarta Post. 

Unfortunately, not all airport visitors can watch the performance because the two-hour show will be staged once at each of the six terminals from Dec. 24 to 31. 

Airport executive general manager Haryanto said Angkasa Pura II had tried many ways to raise public awareness against smoking at the airport, but the results were still unsatisfactory. 

"Based on our study, the pantomime is a very effective way to educate the public to abide by the rules. That's why we used it this time," he said. 

He said pantomime could negate the impression that the airport operator forces or shouts at people to do the right thing when they come to the airport. 

Besides the pantomime shows, Angkasa Pura II also installed floor stickers, and hung banners and a running text containing messages urging visitors to abide by the rules on cleanliness and order. 

He said the mime artists were also assigned to monitor taxi drivers outside the lobby because the drivers liked to urinate in random places. 

Also included in the CAA program launched in September was the improvement of washrooms and Islamic prayer rooms, the construction of an additional terminal and the upgrade of airport infrastructures. 

Angkasa Pura II installed 139 new toilets and renovated 168 existing ones, and constructed nine prayer rooms in response to public complaints about unsanitary conditions at the airport. 

Angkasa Pura II president director Eddi Haryoto said CAA had cost the operator Rp 59 billion (US$6.35 million) this year. 

Earlier this year, a number of non-profit organizations surveyed hundreds of airport users. Complaints about airport toilet facilities topped the list. 

The pantomime show would be reminding all users of airport services to help keep the airport clean. 

However, some travelers still voice complaints about the presence of hawkers offering various informal services, including motorcycle taxis, ticket scalpers and illegal taxis.