Jakarta Deputy Governor Can't Confirm When Night Entertainment Will Open

Jakarta Deputy Governor Ahmad Riza Patria/ANTARA

JAKARTA - Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta Ahmad Riza Patria admitted that he could not confirm when the evening entertainment would open. Since the beginning of the 2020 pandemic, nightlife is still closed until now.

Riza said the discussion regarding the opening of a nightclub, along with the implementation of the health protocol, was still being discussed.

"Still in in-depth discussion and assessing the evaluation carried out on Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) this period," Riza told reporters, Monday, November 1.

The Gerindra Party politician said that the operational decisions of entertainment venues such as discotheques, nightclubs, massage parlors, and karaoke places are in the hands of the central government.

"The discussion is still under the direction of the Central Government and coordination is carried out through a limited meeting with the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment (Kemenkomarves)," said Riza.

Some time ago, on September 29, the Jakarta Entertainment Entrepreneurs Association (Asphija) met Riza at the DKI City Hall to request that a nightclub be opened.

Head of Asphija Hana Suryani admitted that the DKI Provincial Government cannot make their own decisions regarding the opening of night entertainment. Asphija was asked to appear before the Minister of Komarves Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan as the coordinator of the Java-Bali PPKM directly.

"There is no news (about the opening of a nightclub). I was advised to speak to the central government, to Mr. LBP, the Minister of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy," said Hana.

In fact, said Hana, night entertainment entrepreneurs have offered a health protocol mechanism to the government for an assessment or trial of opening the place of business.