Viral: Surabaya Malls Erect Tall Iron Fences, Netizens Link to Riot Fears

SURABAYA – Surabaya netizens were set abuzz by news that four major malls in the city, all part of the Pakuwon Group, have built fences 2.5 metres high. Netizens linked the move to rumours of large-scale unrest and looting expected to result from the economic crisis.

The four malls fitted with the tall iron fences are Pakuwon Mall Surabaya, Tunjungan Plaza, Royal Plaza, and Pakuwon City Mall. Netizens raised the issue of declining public purchasing power and an economic crisis leading to major unrest and looting. Management, however, has denied the speculation.

Pakuwon Group director Sutandi Purnomosidi, in a statement on Instagram, explained why the Pakuwon-owned malls in Surabaya were being fenced off. Sutandi rejected speculation that something major was about to happen in Surabaya.

“Nonsense — what exactly is supposed to be happening in Surabaya?” Sutandi said on the Instagram account @andysugarr.

Sutandi explained why Pakuwon Mall, which had not been fenced since 2017, was now being enclosed with tall iron barriers. “Initially we thought that because Pakuwon Mall is completely open, it is open along 1.5 kilometres. If people now come and cross over, it is dangerous for them,” he said.

He stressed that the fencing was purely for visitor safety. “What is clear is that Pakuwon is not a fortune teller. We do not know what will happen,” he said.