Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung has recently announced that there will be no fireworks show in Jakarta on New Year’s Eve (31st of December) this year, out of consideration for the victims of the severe floods that hit Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.
Anung urged all parties in Jakarta to prioritise empathy for the disaster victims in Aceh, West Sumatra, and North Sumatra, as he does not want lavish New Year’s celebrations amid the grief caused by the disasters.
“The most important thing is no excessive festivities, especially anything extravagant. I don’t want that,” Pramono told the press on Friday, 19th of December.
Instead, the Governor revealed that there would be a joint prayer service as a form of solidarity with the disaster-affected communities in the three provinces. He encouraged residents to give thanks in simple ways as well.
“There will definitely be a special place for us to reflect, pray, and contemplate, especially regarding the events that occurred in Aceh, West Sumatra, and North Sumatra. But I also don’t want everyone to be left with nothing to give thanks for in other ways,” he said.
Meanwhile, Jakarta Deputy Governor Rano Karno also reiterated that the New Year’s Eve celebrations in Jakarta would be held in a more modest fashion and without fireworks. This decision was directed by the Governor to ensure that New Year’s celebrations do not create an overly extravagant impression.
Furthermore, even though Jakarta cannot avoid New Year’s Eve celebrations, the festivities will be adjusted to suit the current conditions and circumstances. In addition, the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government is monitoring the potential for extreme weather in Jakarta at the end of the year, including on New Year’s Eve.
Based on recent forecasts by the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency (Badan Meteorologi, Klimatologi, dan Geofisika or BMKG), the Jakarta area and its surroundings are expected to experience rainfall ranging from 50–150 millimetres in the second and third ten-day periods of December.
“New Year’s celebrations will still take place, but on a modest scale and without fireworks,” Karno told the press on the following Monday (22nd of December).