TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Transportation Ministry has officially prohibited all transportation operators from serving passengers in the areas enforcing the large-scale social restrictions (PSBB), red zones, the Jakarta Greater Area (Jabodetabek), and agglomeration areas.

The ban is stipulated in the Transportation Ministerial Decree concerning the control of transportation during the annual mass exodus or mudik of Eid al-Fitr 1441 Hijri, which is effective as of today, April 24, in an effort to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus disease or COVID-19,

“After we evaluate this, the enactment of the policy will be the same for all transport modes, from April 24 to May 31, 2020,” said the Transportation Ministry’s spokesperson, Adita Irawati, today.

Based on the regulation, transportation operators violating the mandate will be subject to administrative sanctions up to the revocation of their business licenses. The sanctions will be applied from May 8 until May 31, 2020.

In detail, ship operators that insist on serving passengers will not be allowed to have services at ports, or even have their operating permits or SIUPAL revoked. As for air transportation, the sanctions include the removal of route permits.

The Indonesian government has decided to ban the mudik, which is the annual tradition of urban workers returning to their hometowns during Ramadan and Eid holidays, as the containment efforts of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA