Jakarta – The Jakarta administration has donated hundreds of motorcycles and thousands of anti-riot equipment worth nearly Rp 50 billion, or $3.7 million, to the local military command to help boost security in the capital.
"We not only want Jakarta to be beautiful and clean but we also want our city to be safe," Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama said at City Hall on Friday as quoted by CNN Indonesia. "We hope the military can help police provide security with the motorcycles and equipment."
The governor handed over 326 motorcycles and 2,950 sets of anti-riot gear to the Jakarta Military Command, or Kodam Jaya, which also oversees security in the satellite cities of Bekasi, Depok and Tangerang.
Basuki said he expected the motorcycles to be useful in helping the security forces respond more quickly to riots and other acts of mass disturbance.
"We hope that within at least eight minutes after there's a crime report, the officers can reach the location and stop those who want to hurt Jakarta residents," Basuki said.
The Kodam Jaya commander, Maj. Gen. Agus Sutomo, said he also expected his officers be more agile in beefing up security as part of the capital's surveillance forces.
"We have received the donation from the Jakarta government. I believe this will help us a lot in protecting the capital because the threats facing Jakarta are very complex," he said.