Clowns and street children proliferate at Mataram's takjil centres, pressuring visitors to hand over money

Clowns and street children (anjal) at several takjil culinary centres in Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), are being criticised by residents. They are seen as frequently pressuring visitors who are shopping.

“The clowns at the takjil centres in Pagutan and Majapahit are the busiest. If you walk a short distance, you’ll meet a clown. There are around five clowns,” said Amira, a visitor at Pagutan, Mataram, on Sunday, 8 March 2026.

She stated that some of the clowns and street children compel visitors to beg for money. “Many are coercive; they won’t leave if we don’t give money,” she said.

A similar complaint was voiced by another visitor, Sherly. According to her, the number of clowns and street children at Mataram’s takjil centres this year is higher than last year.

‘Tis this year busier, from what I can see. At one point there can be more than 10. That’s just street children; not to mention the clowns, there are a lot. Once we give money, they reappear, it never ends,’ she said on Sunday.

Responding to residents’ complaints, Irwan Rahadi, the head of Mataram City’s Public Order Agency (Sat Pol PP), said he would immediately deploy teams to several locations to carry out enforcement.

‘The aim is to curb those who disturb the public (we will enforce it),’ he told detikBali on Sunday.

Before being loaded onto the patrol vehicle, Irwan said officers would take a persuasive approach first. However, if they continue to disturb visitors, authorities will take action.

‘We do have SOPs, we will warn the person once. This is already a disturbance, especially with reports of coercion. If they are not given money they won’t leave, which raises concerns,’ he concluded.