TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan ensured that a total of 80 shopping malls in the capital city will be reopened on June 15, 2020, amid the transition phase to a new normal era.

The governor made the announcement while inspecting Emporium Pluit Mall in North Jakarta, Thursday, June 11.

“Jakarta administration has set that on June 15, 2020, shopping centers can resume operation,” said Anies, followed by applause and cheers from employees and people in the site.

Responding to the public enthusiasm, Anies joked, “You have been waiting for long, haven’t you? You must be missing it.”

Despite giving the green light, Anies asserted that mall operators must implement strict health protocols in an effort to prevent Covid-19 transmission. He still also barred fitness centers, movie theaters, and exhibitions from operating on June 15.

“If the operators are disciplined, visitors will feel safe to visit a mall. And so economic centers will resume,” Anies Baswedan added.

The Indonesian Shopping Center Association (APPBI) chairperson Ellen Hidayat, meanwhile, said that not all tenants are allowed to resume operation next week. Referring to the regulation on the transitional Large-Scale Social Restriction or PSBB, Ellen said the relaxation only applied to several business sectors.

“The category that will not be reopened on June 15 and is being considered to be reopened in the next phase is related to leisure activities, including cinema, fitness, karaoke, children’s playground, and children’s courses centers,” Ellen explained.

M JULNIS FIRMANSYAH