August 2, 2026 | 04:25 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Special Presidential Advisor for Communications Hasan Nasbi has urged the public to refrain from amplifying negative news. Hasan delivered the remark in response to the erection of high perimeter fences around several shopping centers and office buildings across various regions, including Jakarta.
"We pray for our nation's safety, so let us not amplify negative news," Hasan said at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta on Friday, July 31, 2026.
Hasan believes that reports spreading fear require further clarification. He also urged journalists to verify circulating information. "Journalists can check for themselves. They can fact-check whether the fear-mongering and anxieties circulating are truly real. You can verify it on the ground," Hasan said.
A number of shopping malls across the Jakarta area have recently erected high fences. Among them is Kota Kasablanka in South Jakarta. According to a report by Antara, a newly installed barrier measuring 100 meters in length and 2.5 meters in height now stretches across the front of the Kota Kasablanka shopping center.
The gray fence stands near the main entrance along Jalan Raya Casablanca. Similar fencing has also been set up at several shopping centers in other regions, such as Surabaya.
The Indonesian Shopping Center Management Association (APPBI) stated that erecting fences around commercial centers, including those in Jakarta, is aimed at maintaining public order. "If several shopping centers are installing fences now, it is purely for the sake of public order," APPBI Chairman Alphonzus Widjaja said, as quoted by Antara on Friday, July 31, 2026.
According to Alphonzus, perimeter fencing is nothing new, as many shopping malls have maintained barriers since their construction. He added that the fences serve as a boundary separating commercial property from public spaces, including areas used for public demonstrations.
Meanwhile, Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung has requested the removal of the newly erected fences. The Jakarta Provincial Government is reportedly moving quickly to coordinate with managers of shopping centers and office buildings.
"The Governor views the decision to install high fences as a reaction driven by excessive concern," said Chico Hakim, Special Staff to the Jakarta Governor for Social Communications, when contacted on Saturday, August 1, 2026.
Hakim noted that placing high barriers around malls and office complexes risks creating the impression that Jakarta is under threat. He emphasized that the current security situation across the capital remains stable and secure.
Hakim added that the Jakarta Provincial Government maintains close coordination with the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), the National Police (Polri), and law enforcement agencies to preserve order in the capital. "We want the public and business owners to feel safe and comfortable going about their activities in Jakarta," Hakim said.
Read: Why Jakarta Wants Malls to Remove Newly Installed High Fences
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