Arya News - Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung has urged the public to remain calm and ordered shopping malls and office buildings to remove newly built high perimeter fences from around their premises, ensuring that the capital remains safe amid fears of last year’s August riots recurring.
JAKARTA – Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung has urged the public to remain calm and ordered shopping malls and office buildings to remove the newly built high perimeter fences around their premises, ensuring that the capital remains safe amid fears of a recurrence of last year’s August riots.
Some shopping malls and office buildings in the capital have recently erected high metal fences, eliciting fears of potential unrest equaling last year’s riots and forcing both business groups and governments at various levels to downplay public concerns.
Images of newly-built fences barricading shopping centers, including Kota Kasablanka and Blok M Plaza in South Jakarta and FX Sudirman in Central Jakarta, made rounds on social media recently, prompting speculation that businesses were preparing for possible unrest.
Another perimeter barrier has been installed recently at the building of state-owned lender Bank BNI in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Pramono said he believed businesses might be worried about a recurrence of the unrest seen last August in Jakarta. But he assured that Jakarta remains safe, saying that his office has been working with law enforcement agencies to maintain public order.
“Those [barriers] may be built due to safety concerns. But I’ll definitely ask for those fences to be removed as soon as possible,” he said, as quoted from Antara.
Thousands of people across Indonesia held rallies in late August of last year to protest against economic inequality and lavish perks for lawmakers. In Jakarta, which historically has been the country’s epicenter for political movement, the unrest escalated quickly after an online motorcycle transportation driver fatally struck by a police vehicle while merely passing by the protest area near the Senayan Legislative Complex.
Jakarta suffered Rp 55 billion (US$3.05 million) in economic losses from damaged infrastructures during the two-week long protests, according to the city administration.
According to the Indonesian Shopping Center Association (APPBI), the newly installed fences were not intended to anticipate “emergency situations” but merely to maintain security and to clearly define mall boundaries.
But APPBI chairman Alphonzus Widjaja acknowledged that since some malls are situated in strategic areas prone to protests, establishing clearer boundaries has become essential.
“If some shopping centers have only now started installing fences, the decision is largely for the sake of public order,” he said on Friday.
Indonesia Retail and Tenant Association (Hippindo) chairman Budiharjo Iduansjah said the fencing might be aimed at regulating better visitor flows to prevent traffic congestion and other inconveniences.
“We believe that as long as the government continues to provide strong support, the right incentives and policies for businesses, especially to create more jobs, then there is no need to worry about [security] concerns,” he told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.
Conglomerate group Pakuwon, which manages Kota Kasablanka and Blok M Plaza, denied that the fencing at the two malls were intended to anticipate any “undesirable events” in the future, saying the barriers were meant to improve visitor safety.
On Sunday, Kota Kasablanka shopping mall reportedly started to remove fences from its building.
No more fences: A visitor walks past a wall on Sunday at the entrance of Kota Kasablanka shopping mall in South Jakarta. A tall metal fence that had previously been installed in front of the mall’s entrance and exit had been removed, based on observations made at the scene at about 11 a.m.
No more fences: A visitor walks past a wall on Sunday at the entrance of Kota Kasablanka shopping mall in South Jakarta. A tall metal fence that had previously been installed in front of the mall’s entrance and exit had been removed, based on observations made at the scene at about 11 a.m. (JP/Iqro Rinaldi)
Meanwhile, BNI corporate secretary Okki Rushartomo said that the metal barriers at its Tanah Abang building had been planned since last year as part of efforts to reorganize the area.
Special presidential advisor for communications Hasan Nasbi urged the public to refrain from “fear-mongering” and to verify any information before spreading it.
“Let’s pray that our nation remains safe. So let’s not amplify negative news,” he said, as quoted by Kompas.com.