Annisa Febiola, Jakarta – The punk band Sukatani asserts that they never requested a police escort during the Crowd Noice concert at the Korpri Slawi Building, Tegal. The concert took place on Sunday, February 23, 2025, exactly three days after its personnel Muhammad Syifa Al Lufti and Novi Citra Indriyati pulled the song titled 'Bayar Bayar Bayar' (Pay Pay Pay) and issued an apology to the police chief and the police institution.
"We understand that what we have just experienced and the wide-ranging support from all our friends has made all parties who have wronged us suddenly want to look good," they said through a post on the @sukatani.band Instagram account on Saturday, March 1, 2025.
Sukatani said that the concert proceeded purely because they had to fulfill the promise to take the stage, as stipulated in the contract agreed upon long before the song 'Bayar Bayar Bayar' was censored. It was beyond their control if there were other parties with interests when the concert was held. "At that time, we also did not request special escort from the police," said Sukatani.
Previously, the Professional and Security Division (Divpropam) of the Police claimed to secure Sukatani's concert in Slawi. This security was claimed as a form of commitment to ensure the safety and security of its two personnel.
"As a tangible form and our commitment, the Police will provide security at their concert in Tegal on February 23rd," said the Police's Divpropam through their official social media account on Saturday, February 22, 2025.
Divpropam Polri stated that the Police institution is always open to constructive criticism. In addition, according to Divpropam, the Police also continues to prioritize a humanistic approach in maintaining order and security.
Sukatani announced the withdrawal of the song 'Bayar Bayar Bayar' from all music streaming platforms through their Instagram account on Thursday, February 20, 2025, after feeling repeatedly intimidated by the police since July 2024. In the post, both of its personnel also apologized to the National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo and the Police institution.
In the uploaded video, they also asked social media users to delete their videos or songs that had already been circulated. "We apologize sincerely to Chief of Police and the Police institution, for our song titled 'Bayar Bayar Bayar' with lyrics (containing the word) pay the police that we sang, which went viral on several social media platforms," said Lutfi.
Unlike usual, in the apology video Syifa and Novi appeared without masks. Until now, they chose to cover their faces and remain anonymous when performing in front of the public.
– Jihan Ristiyanti contributed for this article.