Ridwan Kamil Asks Jabodetabek Transportation Restrictions During The Homecoming Season

Ridwan Kamil and Ma'ruf Amin (Photo: capture YouTube screen of the Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia)

JAKARTA - West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil asked the central government to grant restrictions on the flow of transportation in Jabodetabek to prevent the transmission of COVID-19.

Because, soon the homecoming season will arrive in the month of Ramadan. It is possible that many Jabodetabek people will return to their respective hometowns.

This was conveyed by Ridwan Kamil to the Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia Ma'ruf Amin in a coordination meeting via video conference in their respective offices. Previously, DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan also asked Ma'ruf the same thing.

"If homecoming is not detained, we (Pemprov) of West Java, Central Java, and Yogyakarta will be overwhelmed because they return to remote areas. With the homecoming, we are worried that this area will become a source of the COVID-19 pandemic," Ridwan said, Friday, April 3rd.

To date, West Java has not received Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB) status from the Ministry of Health. So, Ridwan admitted that he did not have the authority to limit the flow of transportation and prohibit residents from going home.

Therefore, Ridwan asked Ma'ruf to pay more attention to the three Jabodetabek provinces, namely DKI Jakarta, West Java and Banten. This is done by providing a special policy regarding the control of controlled transportation flows in one frequency.

"I cannot take the initiative too far. I understand, maybe Pak Anies (DKI Governor) and Pak Wahidin (Banten Governor) are busy. So, maybe you (Wapres) can assign ministerial level attention to this on a routine scale," Ridwan said.

Responding to this, Ma'ruf admitted that the central government has not prohibited its citizens from going home, but has given an appeal not to do so.

"So, the consequences (of the homecoming) will definitely be in the receiving areas. Maybe not just going home from Jakarta. Right now there are also TKI going home from Malaysia. This may have to be well prepared," said Ma'ruf.

Therefore, Ma'ruf considers that there must be coordination and cooperation regarding efforts to restrict transportation from the three regional governments of the Jabodetabek region.

"I will try to follow up so that there is cooperation. It turns out that efforts to coordinate this are also things that must be prioritized. We will try to facilitate," he said.

Yesterday, DKI Governor Anies Baswedan complained to Vice President Ma'ruf that the DKI Provincial Government has not been able to prohibit residents from crowding and impose sanctions for those who violate it.

In addition, Anies cannot close the flow of transportation to and from Jakarta to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus from spreading. This is because, according to a recommendation from the Jabodetabek Transportation Management Agency (BPTJ), restrictions on the flow of transportation can only be done after obtaining PSBB status.

"The potential for its spread (in the flow of transportation) is very high. So, this needs to be a concern of the central government," said Anies.

However, when the Jakarta PSBB status was granted, Anies asked the central government to make a breakthrough to regulate special policies in the Jabodetabek area. This is because this area is not only held by one governor, but three provinces at once, namely DKI Jakarta, West Java and Banten.

"In PP No. 21 of 2020, the governor can only regulate movement within one province. Meanwhile, the epicenter is 3 provinces, Sir (Wapres). Therefore, we propose that there is a separate policy for the Jabodetabek area," he added.