Karaoke Places In Jakarta Are Getting Ready To Open

JAKARTA - DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan is preparing to open a karaoke business in the capital. This is stated in the DKI Jakarta Tourism and Creative Economy Agency (Disparekraf) Circular Number 64 / SE / 2021 concerning Preparations for the Reopening of Karaoke Businesses in DKI Jakarta Province.

"The karaoke business is being prepared to reopen during the micro-based PPKM by submitting a request to reopen the karaoke business to the joint team through the DKI Disparekraf," said Head of DKI Disparekraf Gumilar Ekalaya in SE.

Although the discourse of opening a karaoke place to be opened has emerged, Head of the Tourism Industry Division of DKI Jakarta Disparekraf, Bambang Ismadi, said that it is not that easy for karaoke management to open their business premises. Each karaoke place must apply for a license describing the mechanism for implementing the health protocol.

"Karaoke places are being prepared to open. Those who want to open must first strictly submit their health protocol," Bambang said on Thursday, March 11.

So, when the permits for the opening of a karaoke place are opened, all business establishments are ready with the implementation of the protocol. "Its characteristic is to see the preparation and readiness of karaoke business managers," he said.

The period of limiting activities due to the pandemic began on April 10 with the strict implementation of the PSBB. All activities are stopped, except for essential fields. In the following months, DKI implemented a transitional PSBB.

Some businesses, such as malls and restaurants, are allowed to serve on-site meals. However, nightly entertainment venues such as discotheques, karaoke, live music, and massage parlors are still prohibited from operating.

In July 2020, the Jakarta Entertainment Entrepreneurs Association (Asphija) had "nagged" Anies to be allowed to operate. The chairman of Asphija Hana Suryani, at that time, said that the night entertainment business could no longer maintain its business amidst the uncertainty of operations.

In fact, said Hana, all employees at the nightclub got termination of employment (PHK) because employers had no income to pay their employees.

"In the beginning there were some businesses that had not been laid off. But, in June, they finally gave up. Including large entertainment venues, they also gave up because all were completely closed," said Hana on July 20, 2020.

DKI then returned to implementing the strict PSBB volume two. Followed by PSBB transition volume two. Finally, when implementing the micro PPKM, Anies would allow karaoke places to operate.

Hana Suryani was grateful for Anies' decision, which finally opened up opportunities for a karaoke business to "breathe" again. However, Hana said this decision tends to be late.

"We really appreciate it even though it is late. But the important thing is that people are given the opportunity, then the health protocol simulations. That's the point," said Hana on Friday, March 12.

Hana admitted that the process of submitting permits for each karaoke business place to the DKI Jakarta Tourism and Creative Economy Agency (Disparekraf) to be allowed to operate is not easy.

Because, they have to prove the health protocol is actually being implemented. If the health protocol is declared appropriate, the karaoke place can be approved to open immediately.

However, before submitting to the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government, Hana thinks there is a need for a recommendation from the entertainment business association.

"This is what I again went to the Tourism Office, which means that the reference referred to by this kind of association should be directly appointed to be involved, should be Asphija, but we are trying to ask," said Hana.

Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta Ahmad Riza Patria said that his party is currently consulting plans to open karaoke places, health protocol mechanisms, and the impact of the transmission of the COVID-19 case if it operates.

"It is being planned to open for entertainment venues, including family karaoke. We are currently consulting. Just wait for the next March 22 PSBB (PPKM)," said Riza.