TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - PT Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Jakarta closes all underground stations from Senayan until Bundaran HI or HI Roundabout and only open the elevated ones following the May 22 riot.

“MRT Jakarta will start operations at 5 a.m. from Lebak Bulus Station to ASEAN Station and vice versa, only passing seven elevated stations,” said the corporate secretary, Muhammad Kamaluddin, via a written statement, Thursday, May 23.

According to Kamaluddin, the closure is the MRT’s commitment that prioritizes the safety, security, and convenience of passengers. He ensured that the train will arrive on time despite only seven stations operable.

The route engineering had previously been applied on Wednesday, May 22. Per 1:30 p.m., MRT Jakarta only catered passengers from Lebak Bulus Grab Station to Dukuh Atas BNI Station and vice versa.

Earlier, police shut down access along Jalan M.H. Thamrin following the riot in front of the Election Supervisory Board (Bawaslu) office, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday evening. Public facilities including Sarinah Mall, Thamrin were also closed and Transjakarta corridor 1 stopped the operation as well.

The clash between the police and the mob continued until the early hours of Wednesday as officers forced the mass to disperse while they retaliated by throwing stones and lighting firecrackers.

M JULNIS FIRMANSYAH