Jakarta Bans Midnight Sale Ahead of Idul Fitri

TheIndonesia.id - Jakarta provincial government said it’s prohibiting midnight sale at malls and shopping centers ahead of major national holiday Idul Fitri.

Official at the province’s industry, trade, cooperatives, and SMEs office Edi Margono said the decision to ban midnight sale in Jakarta was taken because the event is likely to attract large crowds, and if not managed carefully, it may turn into a COVID-related disaster.

“[It’s banned] because it has the potential of being not intensively controlled,” Margono said on Wednesday, April 13, as reported by Antara, adding that the office also discussed the matter with other related institutions.

“If in our discussion we found a critical point and a potential of uncontrolled crowd, then we wouldn’t give the permission,” he explained.

Among some of the agencies that were involved in the deliberation were mayors, disaster mitigation office, Jakarta Metro Police, tourism and creative economy office, communication and informatics office, municipal police, and officials at subdistrict levels.

Midnight sale is usually held in many cities across Indonesia, including Jakarta, ahead of big holidays or celebrations, such as Idul Fitri, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve.

However, Jakarta is currently imposing Level 2 of community activities restrictions, or PPKM, where malls and shopping centers are only allowed to operate until 10.00 p.m. local time with 75 percent of capacity.

Margono added that as of currently, there has been no request from mall managements for permit to host midnight sale.

Meanwhile, one of the biggest shopping centers in Jakarta Grand Indonesia said it won’t hold midnight sale event to celebrate Lebaran this year.

“There will only be promotions in each tenant, and the operational hour will follow the government’s policy until 10.00 p.m.,” the mall’s corporate communications Annisa Hazarini said on Saturday.