Effective Today, Here Are the Facts About the Eid Homecoming Ban

This is the government’s provision regarding the ban on homecoming trips for the 2020 Eid holiday. The rules will be applicable to land transportation, and are planned to be implemented until 31 May 2020.

The rules specifically for land transportation are planned to be implemented until 31 May 2020.

The provisions for the ban on homecoming trips are based on Ministerial Regulation No. 25 of 2020 regarding Transportation Control during the 1441 H Eid-Al Fitr Holiday Season within the context of Covid-19 transmission prevention. Below are some facts regarding the ban on homecoming trips that were compiled by Kompas.com.

1. Toll roads will not be closed

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) Adita Irawati confirmed that neither toll roads nor non-toll roads will be closed. This is to ensure the smooth flow of logistics between regions. “We need to emphasize that there will be no closure of either national highways or toll roads,” said Adita. Furthermore, Adita explained that her party, together with the Police, will be enforcing closures at various locations by establishing checkpoints, in order to prevent people from insisting on going on homecoming trips outside of or into red zones.

Meanwhile, Director General of Land Transportation for the Ministry of Transportation Budi Setiyadi said that closures are already in place on various national highways. He stated with confidence that the police are also guarding alternative routes or back roads. “We have established these checkpoints in stages. We have placed them on toll roads, provincial roads, and even back roads at the district level. We therefore ask that the public abandon their plans for homecoming trips,” said Budi.

2. Jakarta-Cikampek elevated toll closed

Even though it was announced that toll roads would not be closed, PT Jasa Marga (Persero) Tbk has decided to close the Jakarta-Cikampek elevated toll segment starting at 00.00 WIB (Western Indonesian Time) today. Corporate Communication & Community Development Group Head of Jasa Marga Dwimawan Heru stated that this decision is in response to the Police’s request to close the toll segment that is intended for Class I and Class II vehicles.

"Meanwhile, the Jakarta-Cikampek toll road (lower level) will remain operational, but with a number of closures in place," said Heru. Jasa Marga will also be using VMS (variable message signs) located on the Jabotabek Toll Road, as well as on its social media accounts, to provide information to the public regarding the closure of Jakarta-Cikampek Elevated Toll Road. Heru further stated that Jasa Marga is ready to support the Ministry of Transportation and the Police in implementing the closures at locations on toll roads operated by Jasa Marga. This measure is being taken to ensure that the vehicles that pass through are in accordance with the provisions set forth by the government.

3. Requested to turn around

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Transportation Adita Irawati stated that, effective at 00.00 WIB on April 24, 2020, people who insist on pursuing homecoming trips will be asked to return to their point of origin. “In the initial stages of implementation, the government will prioritize persuasive strategies, where in the first phase, from April 24th to May 7th, violators will be directed back to the origin from which they traveled,” she said.

Thereafter, beginning May 7, 2020, the government will impose full penalties and fines on people who still attempt to make homecoming trips. “Until such time as the regulation expires, violators will not only be required to return to the origin of their trip, they will also be subject to penalties in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, as well as fines,” said Adita.

4. Potential fines of up to Rp100 million

Technical Staff to the Minister of Transportation for Law and Bureaucratic Reform, Umar Arif, said that in its implementation in the field, officers manning the checkpoints will refer to Law Number 6 of 2018 regarding Health Quarantine. As such, the penalties applied to people who insist on making homecoming trips after May 7, 2020 will refer to that regulation.

"Since this refers to the law on quarantine, the potential penalty mentioned is a fine of Rp100 million and a prison term of 1 year. That is the potential penalty. The specific implementation has already been detailed. There is also the potential of additional traffic tickets,” said Umar.

This article has been published in Kompas.com under the title "Effective Today, Take Note of the Facts regarding the Ban on Eid Homecoming Trips", https://money.kompas.com/read/2020/04/24/070354826/berlaku-hari-ini-simak-fakta-fakta-soal-larangan-mudik-lebaran?page=all.
Author: Rully R. Ramli
Editor: Sakina Rakhma Diah Setiawan