Its wealth is based on its vast oil resources, which come from both raw oil and processed oil products. With proceeds from the large amounts of oil taken from the area, the Indonesian government's oil company has constructed a television station, a sports stadium, a clock tower, and elegant columns for the main mosque. The roof descends from a high peak and then slopes gently over a large, open front room. Many limas style houses, as well as other styles, sit on stilts, in order to protect the inhabitants from the frequent floods. Many Palembangese still live over the water of the Musi River as they have for centuries.
Families greatly desire male children.
The grandparents on both sides of the family consider a grandson's birth to be a strengthening of their power and a guarantee of the continuation of their line of descendants. Nearly all Palembangese are Muslim. Despite their Islamic religion, they ultimately respect tradition more highly. They remain proud of their traditions, as well as of the fact that even those with high educational achievements strongly maintain Palembangese customs. Unemployment and under-employment seem to be a problem with many lower class Palembangese.