If you read news about Indonesia from foreign media outlets, you’ve probably come across the disclaimer, “who, like many Indonesians, go by one name” when referring to surname-less citizens. Well, one Indonesian man’s uniquely singular name and equally unusual story has earned him viral fame and even landed him a job that many would say he was destined for since birth.
On November 6, a 22-year-old man from Pasuruan, East Java, was ticketed at a traffic police checkpoint because he was riding his motorcycle without a license. Long story short, a photo showing the ticket and the man’s ID card went viral on social media because it said that the man’s legal name is Polisi (which literally translates to “police”).
Instead of being punished, Polisi quickly became something of a celebrity mascot for the police due to his newfound fame. First, the police issued Polisi a motorcycle license for free (he said he had not been able to afford getting one previously) and then they went on to give their namesake a chance to improve his life in the long term.
Polisi is starting his new job today as an assistant at the Pasuruan Traffic Police Department. The shy man was introduced today in front of all the staff and officers at the department during morning assembly, and he admitted that he was very nervous about his first day.
“I don’t yet understand the workflow here. But I will put in the effort as quickly as possible to adapt. I promise I will try as best as I can,” Polisi said today, as quoted by Tribun.
Pasuruan Traffic Police Department head Erika Purnawa Putra said their employment of Polisi is one way for them to carry out their duty to protect and nurture the public.
“This is a part of our responsibility. We are very happy to be able to help Polisi. Rest assured, we will help Polisi to adapt quickly,” he said.
Before today, Polisi was a construction worker. After his father passed away, Polisi became the breadwinner for his mother and younger sibling.
When asked why he was given the name Polisi, his mother said the name was his father’s idea and there was no particular reason for it.
Of course, Polisi isn’t the only Indonesian to have found viral fame due to their extraordinary names.
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