Indonesian President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo ordered a ban on a massive exodus ahead of the Idul Fitri holiday. AFP
The Indonesian government decided on Tuesday to ban a massive exodus ahead of the Idul Fitri holiday, to curb the spread of the coronavirus from Jakarta, the epicentre of the outbreak, and other high-risk regions to the rest of the vast archipelago.
In an address to a Cabinet meeting just a few days before the start of the Ramadan fasting month, President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo cited various studies.
This included a Ministry of Transportation survey, which revealed that a significant number of people still want to return to their hometowns on the annual exodus, known locally as mudik.
“After mudik prohibition for civil servants, military and police personnel, and employees of state-owned enterprises last week, in today’s meeting, I want to convey a ban on mudik for all. Therefore, preparations related to this [ban] must be executed,” he said.
The president noted that the government has issued a set of assistance measures for citizens affected by Covid-19 this week, such as food aid and cash handouts, that would help cushion the impact of the ban.
Studies – including the ministerial survey – showed that 24 per cent of respondents still want to return to their hometown ahead of Idul Fitri holidays on May 24-25.
A recent survey by the Indonesian Institute of Sciences at the end of last month, for instance, underlined that nearly 44 per cent of its respondents still planned to return to their hometowns despite the government’s call not to do so.
Last week, the Indonesian Transportation Society said around 1.3 million people in and around Jakarta will return to their hometowns.
The modelling by University of Indonesia’s epidemiologists projected an escalation of Covid-19 transmission because of the annual exodus, which engages millions of travellers across the archipelago, in addition to many Indonesians living and working overseas.
Indonesia reported 185 Covid-19 cases on Monday, bringing the total number of infections to 6,760.
The world’s fourth-most populous nation also saw eight more deaths, taking the overall tally to 590, the highest in Southeast Asia.
THE STRAITS TIMES (SINGAPORE)/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
