In the midst of homecoming ban, Minister of Transportation reopens all transportation modes

Last updated on May 7th, 2021 at 08:50 am

The government has decided on a ban on homecoming or ‘mudik’ during the Covid-19 pandemic to prevent the spread of the virus from April 24 to May 31.

The ban is for regions that have implemented large-scale social restrictions (PSBB), red zones of coronavirus spread, and agglomeration of PSBB.

A number of vehicles that are found to be heading to their hometown are certain to be turned backward.

Even a number of sanctions are also applied, for example, for transportation that is determined to transport travellers will be subject to criminal sanctions in accordance with Law No. 22 of 2009 concerning Road Traffic and Transport (LLAJ).

Provisions on the prohibition of going back and forth are stipulated in the Minister of Transportation Regulation No. 25 of 2020 concerning Transportation Control During the Eid Al-Fitr 1441 H in the context of Preventing the Distribution of Covid-19.

Spokesperson of the Ministry of Transportation Adita Irawati said one of the references of Permenhub 25/2020 was Law Number 6 Year 2018 on Health Quarantine.

However, in the midst of the application of the regulation, a policy emerged from the Minister of Transportation, Budi Karya Sumadi, which raised public questions.

Budi ensures that all commercial modes of transportation for passenger transport, whether by land, sea, or air, will resume operations tomorrow, May 7, 2020.

This public transportation service was previously closed because of the previous homecoming prohibition rules.

“It is possible that transportation will be opened tomorrow, but for special purposes. Not for going home. The government still prohibits going home,” said Budi Karya in a hearing (RDP) with the DPR’s Commission VI, Wednesday, May 6, 2020.

Budi Karya explained that the relaxation of the operation of all modes of transportation had been negotiated with the Covid-19 Task Force Handling Team. The Task Force Team in this case acts to determine the criteria for passengers who can use public transportation services in the PSBB area during the corona pandemic.

Referring to Budi Karya’s explanation, the criteria for travel allowed are as follows.

Passengers who are permitted to use transportation services are people with essential business needs or urgent interests.

Other parties who get concessions, passengers who need medical treatment; passengers with urgent interests, for example if a family dies; and the return of PMI, Indonesian citizens, and students from abroad who will return to their area of ​​origin.

Including parents who will marry their children in another city. “They can later be given recommendations to travel,” said Budi Karya.

Budi also mentioned that the legislators were still able to go on an official trip or work visit (kunker), including to their home region.

“So colleagues from Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Papua, Sumatra, if indeed needed for the task, I specifically say that the men are state officials, entitled to carry out movements according to their needs,” Budi Karya said during a joint meeting with the House of Representatives Commission V which took place virtually, Wednesday (05/05/20).

However, Budi Karya Sumadi stressed that the travel needs are not for going home and there must be no abuse of authority.

Budi explained that this policy would be regulated in a regulation derived from the previous regulation, namely Transportation Minister’s Regulation Number 25 Year 2020.

On the other hand, the Head of the University of Indonesia’s Faculty of Public Health (FKM) Epidemiology Department, Dr. dr. Tri Yunis Miko Wahyono, MSc, said that this would greatly impact the increased spread of the Corona (COVID-19 virus in Indonesia.

“If the passengers are not screened first, there will definitely be an increase in transmission, both from wherever they will certainly be infected or transmit,” said Dr. Tri, as quoted by AFP on Wednesday, May 6.