TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Land Transportation Director-General Budi Setiyadi said that the government possibly passes a regulation on the prohibition of the annual exodus to villages, or mudik, during the 2020 end of the fasting month or Eid Lebaran holiday. The ban is aimed at containing the spread of the novel coronavirus that caused COVID-19.

According to Budi, the option will be discussed with Ad Interim Transportation Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan on Friday, April 17.

“We will likely prohibit mudik as we see the upcoming situation. Moreover, the national holiday (Lebaran collective leave days) has been moved to the end of the year,” said Budi during a virtual press conference on Friday, April 17.

To date, the government has not yet decided whether the annual mass exodus will be prohibited or not in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. The policy agreed by President Jokowi was merely a call to the public to stay home and not go out of town.

Budi ensured that the policy will be referred to the Health Ministry that will create the indicator to impose the ban, instead of the Transportation Ministry. Government discussions on the indicators were still afoot.

Meanwhile, the Transportation Ministry will design the transportation scheme in detail once the decision-makers set the policy, Budi added.

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA