TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Jakarta Metro Police has emphasized that 'takbiran' night celebration on the eve of Eid al-Fitr is prohibited in the Greater Jakarta area, due to the enactment of the Large Scale Social Restriction (PSBB) policy.

Police are set to deploy village supervisory non-commissioned officers (Babinsa) in order to enforce the prohibition. “All Babinsa have been deployed to the villages,” said Jakarta Metropolitan Police Chief of Public Relations, Commissioner Yusri Yunus when contacted on Friday, May 22.

According to Yusri, Police have yet to receive any information on plans to celebrate takbiran night from the public, hoping that they will remain to follow PSBB rules and refrain from holding the activity.

"If there are still takbiran celebrations, we will deter them persuasively,” said Yusri

The government has also prohibited the implementation of Eid al-Fitr prayers in mosques, in a bid to curb the COVID-19 outbreak.

According to the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD, the ban is in accordance with the Health Ministerial Regulation No. 9/2020 concerning PSBB and Law No. 6/2018 concerning Territorial Quarantine.

"So, religious activities that gather people in large numbers are prohibited or restricted by law. The government asks that these regulations are not violated," Mahfud said via teleconference, after attending a meeting on Eid al-Fitr preparations with President Joko Widodo, on Tuesday, May 19, 2020.

M JULNIS FIRMANSYAH | Translator: DIO SUHENDA (Intern)