TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said that the government decided to prohibit state apparatus (ASN), police and military personnel, and employees of State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) from returning to their hometowns for this year's Eid al-Fitr, or locally known mudik, during the coronavirus pandemic.

“We have made a decision that ASN, police and military personnel, and employees of SOEs and its subsidiaries are banned to go mudik,” said the president via a teleconference from Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, Thursday, April 9.

As for the public in general, he added, the government will evaluate regulations based on the real condition. “We will review the detailed conditions in the field. We will evaluate it. Again, the government is not recommending people to go mudik for now,” the state head underlined.

In line with the appeal, the government prepared social assistance for those living in Jakarta Greater Area to scrap their plan on the Eid mass exodus.

“We also limit the passenger capacity of public transportations and private vehicles,” Jokowi added.

According to Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, the government had prepared compensations, namely social safety net, to ensure that the needs of people who stay in the city for Eid al-Fitr holidays can be met during the pandemic.

“So the economy will not stop. We have calculated it, and this is the best option,” he said.

DEWI NURITA