Mayor Rahmat Effendi: We Hope That Nightclubs Can Operate Again Soon

Bekasi Mayor Rahmat Effendi together with the Bekasi City Forkopimda elements held a celebration at Patriot Candrabhaga Stadium, Monday, September 20 (Photo: Pradita Kurniawan Syah/Antara).

JAKARTA - The Bekasi City Government, West Java wants night entertainment venues (THM) in its area to be opened immediately with the consideration of being able to revive the regional economy.

"Given that the economy in Bekasi City is dominated by the service, trade, and hotel sectors, including the entertainment sector. So we hope that THM will be able to operate again soon", said Bekasi Mayor Rahmat Effendi in Bekasi, as reported by Antara, Monday, September 20.

He said the plan to reopen THM refers to the Instruction of the Minister of Home Affairs No. 42/2021 which also regulates the issue of granting the permit.

"So based on the Minister of Home Affairs, we have been given some kind of license to carry out entertainment activities", he said.

Rahmat admitted that he had instructed the Bekasi City Tourism and Culture Office to prepare a policy for opening night entertainment venues.

"If necessary, we will prepare vaccination teams in all entertainment venues that night", he said.

The scheme, he said, was considered capable of increasing the number of residents receiving the COVID-19 vaccine because all visitors to nightclubs would automatically be vaccinated.

"So that visitors who have not been vaccinated can be netted at that location by the Bekasi City vaccinator team. This is the same, we get an increase in the number of vaccinated residents", he said.

According to him, residents who live in Bekasi City either already have a Bekasi City ID card or do not still get the same service to get vaccinations.

"Now anyone, like residents of Bekasi Regency, residents of Depok City, if he is here, we will provide vaccinations", he said.

The Bekasi City area is currently implementing Level 3 Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM). Last week, the Bekasi City Government allowed the opening of cinemas. Furthermore, the local government is waiting for the green light to open a nightclub in Bekasi City.

"Our job is to ensure that all activities both in cinemas and nightclubs when allowed to operate will be carried out with the implementation of strict health protocols by established provisions. We will supervise fully", he said.