TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Metro Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Yusri Yunus said his insitutition would collaborate with Jakarta Administration to prevent 'sahur on the road' events during Ramadan this year.

Sahur or suhoor is the meal consumed early in the morning - before dawn - by Muslims before fasting. Sahur on the Road is pre-dawn meal events usually performed by young people outdoors; they not only have their meals but also give meals to passerby or vagrants.

"The authority to ban sahur on the road is not on us. That's in the hands of regional governments, which will be supported by the police," Yusri confirmed on Saturday, March 20.

He iterated that the activity may create crowds, which would be dangerous considering the current Covid-19 pandemic situation.

It may also disrupt the public orders. Yusri said the institution that has the right to enforce such a ban is the public orders enforcers (Satpol PP)

"So the police here are just to help preventing [the events to take place] and disseminating [the policy]." He hopes Jakarta Administration would immediately issue the regulation related to the sahur on the road events during pandemic. "What we acknowledge is that every regional government would likely ban such an activity."

Jakarta Metro Police Chief, Inspector General Fadil Imran asked his personnel to prevent sahur on the road acitvities during Ramadan this year.

"We have to discuss it together to anticipate and find the solution," said Fadil during the E-TLE launching on Saturday, March 20.

He asked the police to create the policy with a comprehensive study to prevent the outdoor pre-dawn activities. If necessary, his institution can perform disseminations, as well as practices, to ban crowds starting this month.

"Maybe on Saturday and Sunday at 00:00 until 05:00. This will be a control during the transition period for sahur on the road phenomenon," Fadil said.

Read: Tips to Keep Eid al-Fitr Celebrations Fun amid Pandemic

IMAM HAMDI