: Research at several Community Health Centers ( Puskesmas ) indicates that service quality is hampered because physical space is masih sempit (still narrow/limited).
A qualitative analysis of 200 Instagram and Twitter (X) posts from 2023–2025 containing the phrase “masih sempit” or “sempit banget” , plus 15 semi-structured interviews with Indonesian workers aged 20–30 in Jakarta and Surabaya. masih sempit
Masih sempit is not merely slang but a diagnostic of stalled social mobility. Linguistically, it keeps open the possibility of future kelapangan (spaciousness), but the repetitive “still” ( masih ) suggests a temporality of waiting without guarantee. Future research might compare sempit with other Southeast Asian spatial precarity metaphors (e.g., Thai khaeb khaen ). : Research at several Community Health Centers (
: These physical limitations lead to long queues and inaccurate service times, despite the competence and politeness of the medical staff. 3. Economic and Educational Limitations Linguistically, it keeps open the possibility of future
: Even when road conditions are decent, accessibility remains a challenge if the access roads are still narrow ("akses jalannya masih sempit"), which negatively affects the potential of local tourism attractions.