Deputy Governor Of DKI Affirms Never Bans Citayam Fashion Week, But Asks To Walk On The Sidewalk Not Zebra Cross

The atmosphere of Citayam Fashion Week or CFW in the Dukuh Atas area of Jakarta. (Instagram zitaanjani)

JAKARTA - Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta Ahmad Riza Patria emphasized that he had never banned Citayam Fashion Week or CFW activities. This is in response to the police controlling the zebra crossing in the Dukuh Atas area, which is the place for CFW.

"CFW has never been closed nor banned. We appreciate Citayam Fashion Week because of innovation, the creations of all of our children," said Riza at DKI Jakarta City Hall, Thursday, July 28.

However, Riza emphasized that the placement of the venue for the "SCBD" youth style to waddle at the zebra cross is not allowed.

Because, he continued, the zebra crossing is only intended for pedestrians crossing the highway. Riza also asked for CFW activities to be carried out in other locations such as sidewalks.

"It has been conveyed by the police that the zebra cross is used to cross the road. Please let the children use the existing sidewalk, yes," he said.

However, Riza regretted that the activity which had recently attracted the attention of the public caused a crowd. In fact, this has the potential to increase the transmission of COVID-19.

"The crowd is getting bigger and has the potential for COVID-19. This is what we have to take care of. We make sure everyone wears masks, we emphasize avoiding crowds, then we ask to maintain health protocols," he said.

Previously, a number of joint personnel from the Central Jakarta Metro Police and the Tanah Abang Metro Police began guarding the zebra crossing in the Dukuh Atas area, Tanah Abang District, Central Jakarta on Tuesday, July 26, afternoon.

Tightening of the guard is done so that the participants of the fashion show do not use the zebra cross as a catwalk event. Police officers who were at the location restored the zebra cross function.

The temporary closure of the zebra crossing on Tuesday will also continue on Wednesday, July 27. However, the Central Jakarta Metro Police Chief Kombes Komarudin refused to block his party on Jalan Tanjung Karang, especially the "zebra cross" to close the Citayam Fashion Week activities.

According to him, the temporary closure of the "zebra cross" on Jalan Tanjung Karang is an effort to normalize because of the prolonged traffic jam. In fact, the congestion has occurred four days in a row since last Friday, July 22.

This congestion, he said, was triggered by the people who gathered at the CFW location, not only for the cat walk, but also for photographers, as well as content creators on social media who spilled out onto the streets.

Finally, the function of the sidewalk and "zebra cross" for pedestrians is disrupted. In fact, the pedestrian and bicycle paths are also filled with illegal motorbike parking.

Combined officers from the Police, Satpol PP to the Central Jakarta Transportation Service also carried out curbs on illegally parked vehicles.

"The pedestrian path is 'full' because two-wheeled vehicles park there, because there are no parking pockets. So, we will control it and we will return the pedestrian function," he said.

Going forward, the Central Jakarta Metro Police will continue to place joint officers to monitor the "zebra cross" area of Jalan Tanjung Karang.