Indonesia Highlights: Covid-19: Indonesia Bans Parade on Idul Fitri Eve to Avoid Crowds | Indonesia Trade Surplus Maintained as MSME Exports Continue to Grow | Indonesia Extends Micro-scale Covid-19 R

KOMPAS.com – Indonesia’s Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas said that convoys around the city on the eve of Idul Fitri to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan are prohibited. The parades could pull a crowd and potentially be the source of coronavirus transmission.

Indonesia’s trade balance that has been in a surplus since last year is fueled by the growth of export-oriented micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Meanwhile, the government has decided to extend the micro-scale Enforced Restriction of Community Activities (PPKM) by another 14 days until May 3 and expand the restrictions to five other provinces.

Below are excerpts from the stories in Indonesia, curated by Kompas.com editors:

Covid-19: Indonesia Bans Parade on Idul Fitri Eve to Avoid Crowds

Indonesia’s Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas said that convoys around the city on the eve of Idul Fitri to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan are prohibited.

“We impose restrictions on takbir activity [praising Allah by chanting and pounding on the drums at the end of the fasting month], whereby public parades are prohibited,” said Yaqut after a limited cabinet minister meeting at the Merdeka Palace on Monday, April 19.

Yaqut said that the convoys around the city could pull a crowd and potentially be the source of coronavirus transmission.

However, he said, the government will allow the congregations to hold the takbir events in mosques or prayer halls as long as they follow the health protocols.

"The gatherings are limited to 50 percent capacity of the mosque or prayer hall," he said.

Source: https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2021/04/19/17534371/pemerintah-larang-takbir-keliling-karena-picu-kerumunan.