APSN Banner

Too soon to shop? 64 malls in Jakarta to reopen in June

Source
Coconuts Jakarta - May 26, 2020

It appears that Jakartans will soon be able to go back to their favorite pastime activity of hanging out at the mall, just as soon as the Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB) protocol is lifted in early June.

Ellen Hidayat, who heads the Jakarta chapter of the Indonesian Shopping Center Management Association (APPBI), said that malls in the Greater Jakarta Area could reopen the day after PSBB ends on June 4, which falls next Thursday.

"Because PSBB is concluded on the fourth [of June], of course we assume that we can reopen on the fifth. [The malls are] now closed due to PSBB," Ellen told Detik yesterday.

Malls across Jakarta are set to reopen in stages, beginning Friday, June 5 to Monday, June 8. The first day is set to see the reopening of 60 malls in the capital, including Plaza Indonesia, Senayan City, Kota Kasablanka, Pondok Indah Mall, Puri Indah Mall, and AEON Mall Jakarta Garden City.

Meanwhile, Grand Indonesia, Teras Benhil, Kelapa Gading Mall, and Sunter Mall are scheduled to open on June 8. The full list of the malls is available here.

News of President Joko Widodo being scheduled to attend a ceremony at Summarecon Mall Bekasi (SMB) this afternoon sparked some online commentaries earlier today, after Indah Indri Hadsari, who heads the external publication division at Bekasi City's regional secretariat office, was quoted as confirming the event by local news outlets.

Indah also said that every mall in Bekasi is reopening today with standard COVID-19 protocols in place, further adding that the city will serve as an example for the beginning of economic activities amid the pandemic for other regions across Indonesia.

However, the head of Bekasi City's public relations division, Sayekti Rubiah, has clarified that Jokowi is only visiting to take a look at the city's preparations in implementing the "new normal procedures," which is set to take place after PSBB protocol is lifted.

In addition, SMB is not reopening its doors to the public today, though it will receive Jokowi as part of the president's survey visit.

PSBB in Jakarta ends on June 4, but Governor Anies has hinted at extending the partial lockdown protocol beyond the date as there have been no substantial signs that local transmissions are decreasing in the capital.

Military and police to join forces to supervise the 'new normal'

The so-called "new normal" in Indonesia will involve at least 340,000 Indonesian military personnel and police officers to ensure that everything is in order in the new way of living amid the COVID-19 pandemic, as told by the Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) Hadi Tjahjanto to reporters while surveying the Bundaran HI MRT station today with President Jokowi.

According to Hadi, the personnel will be deployed at around 1,800 locations in four provinces and 25 regencies or cities, namely Jakarta, West Java, West Sumatra, and Gorontalo. They will ensure the people obey the COVID-19 protocols to curb the spread of the viral disease, such as wearing face masks outside and maintaining physical distance as well as limiting the capacity of public places.

"We will allow the malls with the capacity of 1,000 people to be just 500 and we will supervise. Including restaurants, which may have the capacity of 500 people, we will keep it to just 200 people," Hadi said.

Source: https://coconuts.co/jakarta/news/too-soon-to-shop-64-malls-in-jakarta-to-reopen-in-june

Country