The COVID-19 Task Force Prohibits Local Homecoming But The Ministry Of Transportation Makes An Exception, Observer: Confuses

JAKARTA - The period of eliminating homecoming has been going on from May 6 to May 17, 2021. However, the Ministry of Transportation issued regulation Number 13 of 2021. In this Permenhub, there are 8 agglomeration urban areas that are allowed to move vehicles without the need for SIKM.

The eight areas are Medan Raya Medan, Binjai, Deli Serdang, Karo); Jabodetabek (Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, Bekasi); Bandung Raya (Bandung City, Bandung Regency, Cimahi City, West Bandung Regency); Semarang Raya (Semarang, Kendal, Demak, Ungaran, Purwodadi).

Then, Yogyakarta Raya (Yogyakarta City, Sleman, Bantul, Kulon Progo, Gunungkidul); Solo Raya (Solo City, Sukoharjo, Boyolali, Klaten, Wonogiri, Karanganyar, Sragen); Surabaya Raya (Surabaya, Gresik, Lamongan, Bangkalan, Mojokerto, Sidoarjo); and Makassar Raya (Makassar, Takalar, Maros, Sungguminasa).

From this, the community assumes that the government allows local homecoming, as long as it is still in an agglomeration area. This is because travelers in one of these areas do not need to take care of SIKM.

However, Doni Monardo, Chair of the COVID-19 Handling Task Force, asked the regional government and local officials to prohibit local homecoming during this year's Eid homecoming prohibition period, May 6 to 17, 2021.

"We hope that local homecoming is still prohibited. Do not allow local homecoming to occur," Doni said in a virtual coordination meeting of the COVID-19 Task Force on Sunday, May 2.

This was reiterated by Wiku Adisasmito, spokesman for the task force for handling COVID-19. Wiku emphasized that local homecoming is also prohibited during this year's Eid homecoming period.

"To solve the confusion that exists in the community regarding local homecoming in agglomeration areas, I emphasize that the government prohibits any form of homecoming, both across provinces and within one agglomeration city district," Wiku said in a YouTube broadcast of the Presidential Secretariat, Thursday, May 6.

However, Wiku emphasized that other activities besides going home in one regency / city or agglomeration, especially in essential sectors, will continue to operate without any kind of isolation in order to accelerate regional socio-economic activities.

Responding to this, a public policy observer from Trisakti University, Trubus Rahadiansyah, said the government was confusing. On the one hand, there are exceptions to the prohibition of going home in one agglomeration area. However, the Task Force strictly prohibits local homecoming.

"The Task Force prohibits local homecoming but there is a Permenhub that excludes 8 agglomerations. This confuses the public. What do you mean?" Trubus said to VOI.

"If it is not allowed, there should be no exceptions in all agglomeration areas. Policies that are mixed like this are confusing to the community. Regional heads are also confused," he continued.

According to Trubus, if local homecoming is prohibited, the government must strictly prohibit all travel in the agglomeration area except for travelers who are traveling because of work or special interests.

This is because if the prohibition on local homecoming is limited to words, while there is no blocking and the use of exit and entry permits (SIKM) for travelers in one agglomeration area, there will still be those who do local homecoming.

"If you want to be firm, just ban it. All prohibited. When it comes to work needs, employees can only be given a card or a certificate from their office. This is so that separating these workers is not homecoming," he said.