THE office of the Pelalawan Regent in Riau seemed totally deserted on Tuesday afternoon last week. Though some employees were chatting on the premises, the parking lot was virtually empty.

Many desks in the Malay-designed imposing office building were also empty. The few seen at their desks were simply shooting the breeze. “Today very few employees come. The roll call was attended by a lot of employees. After that, it was deserted,” said Tah