Imam Hamdi, Jakarta – Urban transport expert and Indonesian Transportation Society (MTI) Head, Djoko Setijowarno on Monday argues that the government shows inconsistency upon restricting people's Eid Homecoming or 'mudik' mobility ahead of the Eid celebration.

He implied that as the government banned the act of mass exodus during the Muslim Eid al-Fitr, which is commonly called as mudik, the same was seemingly not implemented foreign nationals visiting Indonesia following the arrival of 157 Chinese nationals amidst this ban.

"This shows that Indonesian officials are not sensitive towards the condition currently felt by its own people," Djoko confirmed in a text message on May 10.

He insists that the government should implement similar restrictions it has implemented on its own citizens by preventing any foreign national that intends to arrive in Indonesia.

"Whatever the reason may be, it should be postponed until May 17 [when the ban is lifted]. Whatever their interests may be," he asserts.

He fears that by letting the visitors from China into Indonesia would spark assumptions that the government lacks seriousness in handling the Covid-19 crisis. "Even though the Chinese workers arrived under proper procedures, the time is just not right," the transportation expert implied.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/1461137/foreign-arrivals-amid-govt-mudik-ban-a-contradiction-says-exper