PSBB, Entrepreneurs Ask Anies To Extend Stimulus And Relaxation

JAKARTA - Chairman of the DPD Association of Indigenous Entrepreneurs of DKI Jakarta, Sarman Simanjorang, admits that he understands the decision of DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan to re-implement the PSBB strictly.

"Business actors really understand the policy, a difficult choice for the governor. For entrepreneurs, this policy is very tough, but we have to accept and support it," said Sarman in his statement, Thursday, September 10.

However, Sarman asked Anies to facilitate the provision of various tax stimuli and relaxation so that entrepreneurs can maintain their limited business due to the PSBB.

"Our hope is that various stimuli and relaxation aimed at entrepreneurs can be extended until the end of the year," he said.

Sarman stated that the implementation of the strict PSBB which was reintroduced would make Jakarta's economic conditions stagnate again.

This is because many office activities will be closed. Then, the operational activities of various business sectors such as shopping centers, malls, cafes, restaurants, hotels, including SMEs will be hampered again.

He continued, the tightened implementation of the PSBB will also suppress Jakarta's economic growth in the third quarter and have the potential to contract and recession.

"Jakarta's second quarter economic growth contracted minus 8.22 percent above the national contraction of minus 5.32 percent," said Sarman.

"With this PSBB policy, in which various service business sectors will close and household consumption will certainly decline, Jakarta's third quarter economic growth has the potential to be negative," he added.

As is known, currently the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government is preparing regulations for the preparation of PSBB, such as at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic which will take effect from Monday, September 14.

When the PSBB is back in effect, all business and office activities, outside the 11 essential business sectors, are required to return to work from home or work from home (WFH).

All places to eat such as restaurants and cafes are still allowed to operate, but visitors are no longer allowed to eat on the spot. All entertainment venues, public activities and community activities that are mass gathering and crowd-gathering are also prohibited.

"Gatherings such as reunions, outgoing meetings and others that bring together people from various places should be postponed. Remember, the transmission of COVID-19 in events like this has a very large potential," said Anies.

Anies will also again strictly limit the number of public transport passengers. Then, the odd-even will also be temporarily eliminated. However, that does not mean that people can freely travel by private vehicle.

"Currently, the emergency condition is more emergency than the beginning of the previous outbreak, so don't leave the house if you don't have to. Stay at home and don't leave the house from Jakarta if there is no urgent need," said Anies.