Anies Baswedan: The Mall Reopens On June 5, That's Imagination

The Governor of DKI Jakarta, Anies Baswedan. (Photo: DKI Jakarta Provincial Government Public Relations)

JAKARTA - DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan said his party would still review whether to extend it or not, regarding the implementation of large-scale social restrictions (PSBB). He also denied that there were news that a number of shopping centers or malls would reopen amid the corona virus pandemic or COVID-19.

Anies emphasized that it is not the provincial government (Pemprov) of DKI Jakarta or experts who can determine whether the PSBB is extended or not, but the behavior of the people that determines it.

Furthermore, Anies said, if the behavior of the whole community restrains itself, then the reproductive rate of the virus drops, then the implementation of the PSBB could end on June 4. However, on the other hand, if it does not show a decrease, then the rule must be extended.

"At this point, someone says that the mall will open on June 5, the mall will open on the 7th, that's imagination. It's fiction because there are no rules that say the PSBB will end," he said, in Jakarta, Tuesday, May 26.

According to Anies, the decision on whether the Jakarta PSBB will be extended or not will be decided next week. After that, the Provincial Government will also announce protocols for each industry and protocols that must be carried out by the whole community. One of them is that you must wear a mask.

"I always say this PSBB can be the final PSBB, but it can also be extended. It depends on monitoring of current community activities," he said.

Anies emphasized that the date of reopening the mall in Jakarta cannot be justified and must wait for the results of the third phase of the PSBB evaluation.

"Not true, there is no (mall opening starting June 5). That the PSBB ends on the 4th, it is PSBB now but the PSBB can be extended," he said.

Is it dangerous to reopen malls amid a pandemic?

Chairman of the Association of Indonesian Shopping Center Managers (APPBI) DKI Ellen Hidayat said, if the shopping center did a new normal by preparing various security for visitors and employees and also following various government directives, then there shouldn't be a problem. However, the mall manager must also apply the basic standard operating procedures (SOP) for the COVID-19 pandemic. Among them are providing a temperature measuring device and visitors are required to wear masks.

"The average public space for malls is quite large with many entrances and also has a wide enough corridor. So physical distancing will be better maintained. With the opening of malls in various areas of DKI, the segments of each mall and the mall's positioning are clear. , then this will help spread the pungunjung, "said Ellen.

Furthermore, Ellen compared the public spaces in malls with traditional markets. According to him, traditional markets with more limited public space will remain open during the PSBB. So, there is no problem if the mall reopens. He considered that this would actually help move the wheels of the national economy and increase the resilience of the Indonesian people.

Ellen said the reasons behind the mall's reopening were the issuance of a decree from the Minister of Health, and the end of the third phase of the PSBB DKI on June 4, as well as an appeal from the government to be brave and start dealing with COVID-19.

"Let us see together the efforts of shopping center managers to revive with their tenants will have a positive impact on people entering the new normal, employees can return to work and people can live healthier lives with good health security. It's not that all people have been educated for a long time. these two months to maintain family health ?, "he said.

As is well known, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced the world community to adapt to new conditions and life arrangements. Like it or not, like it or not, everyone is now forced to be willing to do something that was previously considered unusual or abnormal to become something normal, general, or just ordinary in the midst of a pandemic.

Reducing various activities outside the home by working from home, studying at home no longer at school, even worshiping at home. However, in the new life order, people are required to begin to adapt and return to their activities while the pandemic is still ongoing.

Some of these changes have given birth to the term new normal. The definition of new normal is a scenario to accelerate the handling of COVID-19 in the health and socio-economic aspects. The Indonesian government has announced plans to implement the new normal scenario taking into account epidemiological studies and regional preparedness.

Previously, there was information on the list of 60 malls that will open on June 5, with a number of other malls operating on June 8. The malls include Grand Indonesia, Teras Benhil, Summarecon Mall Kelapa Gading, and Sunter Mall.

List of 60 malls reportedly opening on June 5:

1. Plaza Indonesia

2. FX Sudirman

3. ITC Mangga Dua

4. ITC Cempaka Mas

5. Golden Truly

6. Gajah Mada Plaza

7. Senayan City

8. ITC Roxy Mas

9. Mangga Dua Mall

10. Mango 2 Square

11. Plaza Atrium

12. Plaza Kenari Mas

13. Thamrin City

14. Harco Pasar Baru

15. Jakarta Design Center

16. Plaza Glodok

17. ITC Permata Hijau

18. Kota Kasablanka

19. Gandaria City

20. Plaza Blok M

21. Onebel Park

22. Lippo Mall Kemang

23. The Plaza Semanggi

24. Pacific Place

25. Pejaten Village

26. ITC Kuningan

27. Transmart Cilandak

28. Pondok Indah Mall

29. Ciputra World Jakarta / Lotte Shopping Avenue

30. Kuningan City

31. Blok M Square

32. ITC Fatmawati

33. Kalibata City Square

34. Ambassador Mall

35. Blok M Mall

36. Furniture Plaza

37. Taman Anggrek Mall

38. Lippo Mall Puri

39. Taman Palem Mall

40. Puri Indah Mall

41. Ciputra Mall Jakarta

42. Central Park Mall and Neo Soho Mall

43. PX Pavilioun

44. Seasons City

45. Lippo Plaza Kramat Jati

46. Cibubur Junction

47. Mall Cipinang Indah

48. Tamini Square

49. AEON MALL Jakarta Garden City

50. Arion Mall

51. Buaran Plaza

52. Mall Bassura

53. Pulogadung Trade Center

54. Cililitan Wholesale Center

55. Pluit Village Mall

56. Emporium Pluit Mall

57.Pluit Junction

58. Baywalk Mall

59. WTC Mangga Dua

60. Koja Trade Center