9th September 2022 – Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat, Central Jakarta, is temporarily closed to anticipate fuel oil price hike protests on Friday (9/9). There are brick blockades, barbed wires, and water barriers that fortify the street right below the Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat pedestrian bridge (JPO).
A couple of roads have been forced to closed off due to protests. Some of the roads are the Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat, Jalan Medan Merdeka Utara, Jalan Majapahit, and Jalan Veteran III.
Vehicles from Jalan Hayam Wuruk will not be able to pass Jalan Majapahit located right beside Istana Merdeka. All vehicles will be automatically redirected left to Jalan Juanda.
Vehicles from Jalan MH Thamrin will not be able to pass Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat, Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan, or Jalan Budi Kemuliaan, as the point of protest is around Patung Kuda.
Nevertheless, the traffic around the Patung Kuda Arjuna Wijaya area is monitored smoothly for now.
Protests from the citizens are a response to the increase in the price of three types of fuel as of Saturday (3/9) at 2:30 PM WIB.
“Currently, the Government has made a decision in this difficult situation. This is the Government’s last option, which is to divert fuel subsidies which causes the prices of several types of fuel will be adjusted,” said Joko Widodo at a press conference broadcast through the Presidential Secretariat’s YouTube channel on Saturday.
Currently, the price for pertalite raised from IDR 7,650 to IDR 10,000 per litre. Subsidized diesel raised from IDR 5,150 to IDR 6,800 per litre, and pertamax from IDR 12,500 to IDR 14,500 per litre.
Sri Mulyani Indrawati, the finance minister, point out that if the price of subsidized fuel does not increase, the burden on the state budget will be heavier next year. This consideration has taken into account the world oil price trends, rupiah exchange rate, and consumption of petalite and biodiesel that exceeded the quota. It is estimated that the number of subsidies and compensation is around IDR 698 trillion by the end of the year if subsidized fuel prices are maintained.
