Danny Pomanto Temporarily Closes Places Of Worship In Makassar During PPKM, But Night Clubs May Open

Makassar Mayor Danny Pomanto (private Instagram)

MAKASSAR - Currently in the spotlight regarding the PPKM (Restrictions on Community Activities) policy in Makassar City, South Sulawesi. Makassar Mayor, Moh Ramdhan Pomanto aka Danny Pomanto, decided to temporarily close places of worship, but nightclubs at the hotel are still allowed to open.

"We are in the orange zone with this rule. Home Affairs Minister Instruction number 17 of 2021. For districts in the orange zone and red zone, worship activities at places of worship will be temporarily suspended", said Makassar Mayor Danny Pomanto, quoted by Antara, Tuesday, July 6.

The closure of places of worship, he said, will be reopened after the area in question is declared safe by the determination of the local government. Danny Pomanto hopes that the implementation of temporary worship can be optimized in their respective homes.

"I respect all religious people, this is hard for me. As a regional government, I have to follow the central orders, laws, and regulations that apply. We cannot make any modifications. it has to enter the RT (Neighborhood Association) zone", he said.

According to him, it is undeniable that there are still places of worship ignoring health protocols, but so far they are in a low category. His party was disappointed, given the status of the orange zone without any official indicators of that status.

To ensure that, the COVID-19 Detector Task Force team which has been launched immediately works to carry out surveys, mapping, and inspections in all RTs, so that later they become a status assessment standard so that worship activities in places of worship are reopened.

"I sent a team of detectors this week to assess the status of each RT. Is it green, yellow, orange, red, or black zones? If it's orange, red, or black, then, of course, it will be closed," said the man who is familiarly called Danny Pomanto.

However, if the status of the RT is in the yellow and green zones, the house of worship will be reopened. He really hopes that the community is asked for patience and does not panic over the regulation, because he is also not happy with the temporary closure of houses of worship, but because of the conditions and rules, it must be implemented so that the pandemic ends soon.

"I'm afraid of this. From the beginning I have conveyed, until I complained, why are we in the orange zone, even though the orange requirements have not been met with us. We have also protested to the center, but the decision has been made. I will detail the status per RT area", Danny said.

Malls to Nightclubs Can Open

Meanwhile, in a circular letter from the Mayor of Makassar, Danny Pomanto, it is regulated regarding shopping centers to nightclub operations.

"Shopping centers such as malls, as well as other trade centers, limit their operating hours until 5 pm (17:00 WITA) with a visitor capacity of only 25 percent. The application of health protocols must be stricter", said Danny Pomanto.

Likewise, eating and drinking activities in public places such as food stalls, restaurants, cafes, street vendors, hawker stalls, both in separate locations and in shopping centers, continue to operate until 17.00 WITA with a visitor capacity of 25 percent.

However, food service via delivery or takeaway is still allowed until 20.00 WITA. For restaurants that service delivery or take-away can operate for 24 hours.

Meanwhile, karaoke businesses, family singing houses, nightclubs, discotheques, "live music", massage or reflexology, and the like, including supporting facilities for entertainment venues in hotels, are still permitted until 17.00 WITA with a 25 percent limit on visitor capacity and strict adherence to health protocol.

Danny Pomanto emphasized that strict sanctions will be imposed on violators by the applicable rules and regulations. The Crowd Decomposition Task Force has also been strictly ordered to disperse if there is a crowd.

Witnesses are given to violators in the form of a verbal and written warning if they still violate, the business is sealed and the business license revoked. The element of criminal offense is of course applied if the violation is considered serious.

Previously, the Circular of the Mayor of Makassar number: 443.01/334/S.Edar/Kesbangpol/VII/2021 regarding the extension of the Micro-Based PPKM during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Makassar City was signed on July 6 and enforced until July 20, 2021, or the next 14 days.

This decision refers to the Instruction of the Minister of Home Affairs number 17 of 2021, dated July 5 regarding Micro-Based PPKM and optimizing the COVID-19 handling post at the village and sub-district levels to control the spread of COVID-19.

Other bases are Regional Regulation number 5 of 2011 concerning the List of Tourism Businesses, Mayor's Regulation (Perwali) number 5 of 2021 concerning Makassar Recover, and Makassar Mayor's Decree number 1160/331.1.05 of 2021, concerning the Crowd Decomposition Task Force (Raika).