Lenny Tristia Tambun – The Indonesian Ulema Council wants to prevent mass services from taking pla on public streets, calling the practice disruptive and haram, or forbidden, under Islam.

"Conducting tabligh akbar [mass sermon] by closing a street causes loss for other people," Syamsul Ma'arif, the secretary general of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), said on Thursday.

"For instance you want to take your wife to the hospital as she needs to be treated immediately, but you can't do that because the road was closed. It is a public order disturbance by religious figure. Provincial government should be strict on this, don't be selective."

A mosque on Jalan Raya Pasar Minggu and on Jalan Mampang Prapatan, South Jakarta, often conduct mass services on the street.

Jakarta Deputy Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama said that the Jakarta government would support the MUI's edict by relaying the message through mass media and advertisement boards on Jakarta buildings.

"We have to inform the edict so people could read and see it, especially the organizers of religious services that often use and close the street that causes difficulties for people to go to their destination," Basuki said.

Basuki said that the Jakarta government would build integrated market buildings, with the first and second storey to be used for the market, the third storey to be used as a multifunction hall, and the final storey to be used as a public health center, kindergarten and flats.

"Main roads should not be used by people for personal usage," he said. "Main roads should not be used without permit. But they did it because there is no big multifunction room, so they block the road. But with the concept of an integrated market, they can use the multifunction hall."