Businesses Predict Low Visitors Today, Urging Shopping Centers to Remain Operating Normally

Mall (Photo: doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Alphonzus Widjaja, Chairman of the Indonesian Shopping Center Entrepreneurs Association (APPBI), predicts that shopping center visits will be sluggish. This follows today's continued demonstrations.

"APPBI predicts that shopping center visits today will not be as high as usual, but we remain optimistic that things will gradually return to normal soon," he told VOI in Jakarta on Friday, August 29.

Nevertheless, Alphonzus instructed APPBI shopping centers to continue operating to serve the public. However, they must prioritize visitor safety and comfort.

"APPBI instructs all shopping centers to continue operating normally, serving the public while prioritizing visitor safety and comfort," he explained.

Alphonzus expressed concern and regret over the incident, which was certainly unexpected by all parties. APPBI also hopes that all parties can contain and control the situation and ensure conditions remain conducive.

"We also hope that the government can immediately address and resolve this problem wisely so that people's lives are not disrupted and can return to normal," he explained.

For your information, the online motorcycle taxi (ojol) association is continuing its demonstration today, centered at the Kwitang Mobile Brigade (Brimob) Headquarters in Central Jakarta. This action follows the death of an ojol driver who was run over by a Brimob vehicle during a demonstration at the Indonesian Parliament Building last night.

In addition to the ojol association, the Indonesian Student Executive Board (BEM SI) is also holding a demonstration today. The demonstration will begin in the FX Sudirman area of ​​Central Jakarta.

The crowd will then hold a long march. The long march will end at the Jakarta Metropolitan Police (PMJ) building. One of the demands of today's BEM SI demonstration concerns repressive actions by the authorities against the public.