Pramono Requests Malls to Remove High Fences, Asserts Jakarta is Safe
Following viral social media posts showing a well-known shopping centre in South Jakarta installing high iron fences around its perimeter, Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung has requested that mall management remove them.
“Regarding the installation of fences, I have also observed this. It may stem from certain concerns, but at the appropriate time, I will certainly request that those fences be removed,” Pramono told reporters in the Blok M area, South Jakarta, on Friday (31/7/2026).
Pramono believes that the excessive anxiety displayed by mall management through the installation of high fences is not a positive development. He stated that his administration will coordinate with law enforcement agencies, including the TNI and Polri, to reassure the public that Jakarta remains safe.
“Excessive anxiety is not good. As the Governor of Jakarta, I will coordinate with the TNI, Polri, and other law enforcement agencies to guard Jakarta. We experienced concerns like those in August last year, but hopefully, that will not happen again. I am confident it won’t,” he added, asserting that Jakarta remains a safe and comfortable city for everyone to enjoy.
Previously, the Chairman of the Indonesian Shopping Centre Management Association (APPBI), Alphonzus Widjaja, clarified that the fences were not installed due to threats of riots. According to him, the primary objective is to organise visitor entry and exit points more orderly.
“The main goal is to regulate the flow of visitors entering and exiting. If it is open, visitors can enter and exit from anywhere, which can endanger the surrounding traffic,” Alphonzus told CNBC Indonesia during an event at the Ministry of Trade Auditorium in Jakarta.
He noted that the use of fences is not a new practice in shopping centres, as many malls have utilised them since they first began operations. However, he acknowledged that the fences also serve as a security perimeter for malls located near areas that frequently host demonstrations.
“At the same time, some shopping centres are located near centres of protest activity. Therefore, I believe this serves as a security boundary against such demonstrations,” he explained.
When asked if the fences were an anticipatory measure against riots, Alphonzus denied the notion, emphasising that the security measures are focused on access control and protecting the mall area from nearby protest activities.
“I do not believe it is about riots. The primary goals are, first, to organise visitor access so it is centralised. Second, it provides a boundary. While demonstrations are not prohibited as long as they have permits, this provides a security perimeter,” he concluded.
The installation of high fences is not unique to Jakarta; a large mall in Bekasi has implemented similar measures, as have several malls in Surabaya.