Gov’t to Deploy TNI/Polri Personnel at Crowded Places to Enforce More Discipline

President Jokowi delivers press statement after inspecting preparation of the “new normal” scenario at public facilities, at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle MRT station, Central Jakarta, Tuesday (26/5). (Photo by: PR/Teguh)

The Government has announced that starting today personnel of the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) and Indonesian National Police (Polri) will be deployed at crowded places to monitor the public and to enforce more discipline among them in a bid to follow the health protocols.

“I headed to this station this morning to ensure that the TNI and Polri personnel could enforce discipline among the public at crowded places as of today,” President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said after inspecting preparation of the “new normal” scenario at public facilities, at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle MRT station, Central Jakarta, Tuesday (26/5).

According to the President, the move is aimed at ensuring that the people follow the health protocols based on the large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) regulation.

“(The personnel) will be deployed in 4 provinces and 25 regencies/cities. I hope by doing so, the discipline of the people can be maintained,” he said, while expressing hope that the move can remind the people about the importance of discipline and can eventually flatten the COVID-19 curve.

“The R0 (basic reproductive number for COVID-19) in several provinces is below one point. We hope the figure will decline after the TNI and Polri personnel are deployed massively on the ground,” he said.

Joining the President were among others Commander of the TNI Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, Polri Chief Gen. Idham Aziz, and Governor of Jakarta Anies Baswedan. (DND/EN)

Translated by : Rany Anjany
Reviewed by: M. Ersan Pamungkas