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Jam Gadang closed for New Year's Day celebration
Various events will mark New Year's Eve across the country, but a local administration in West Sumatra is set to prevent any "big bang" for happening, in an attempt to avoid "indecency" among youths
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Various events will mark New Year's Eve across the country, but a local administration in West Sumatra is set to prevent any "big bang" for happening, in an attempt to avoid "indecency" among youths.
The Bukittinggi municipality has decided to cover the Jam Gadang (Big Clock) tower at the turn of the new year so people, who usually crowd the city landmark, won't celebrate the event there.
"We will drape the Jam Gadang in black, red and yellow cloth so people will not wait for the clock to strike 12:00 on New Year's Day," municipal spokesman Elvis Sahri Munir told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
Elvis cited concerns over public safety and orderly conduct, especially among courting youngsters, as the reason for the move.
"Usually, around 300,000 people gather at the clock every New Year's Eve to witness the clock strike 12, marking the change of year. Youngsters express their happiness by hugging their mates, and even kissing. People from religious circles have criticized these acts because they are against religious and local traditions," Elvis said.
He added that people would usually bring their children to sit on mats and even sleep during the gathering and in the event of chaos, lives, especially those of children, could be in danger.
"The move might raise criticism, but the municipality is the one who really understands the condition of Bukittinggi," Elvis said.
The Jam Gadang closure is scheduled to take place at 4 p.m. local time on Wednesday and will be attended by Mayor Djufri and city officials including leaders of the local chapter of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI).
Eight workers will scale the clock tower and drop a 17 meter black, red and yellow (traditional Minangkabau colors) cloth on all four sides of the tower. They will be removed on Thursday. The clocks on each of the four sides of the tower will also be stopped and restarted at 10 a.m. on Thursday.
Djufri announced the planned closure of the Jam Gadang following a case involving senior high school students making a pornographic video in the city this year. Since then, Djufri has banned the celebration of Valentine's Day.
The move was opposed by a number of parties, including the local chapter of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association and West Sumatra Culture and Tourism Office head James Hellyward.
Hellyward deemed the Jam Gadang closure as an unfounded move by the municipality.
"The municipality perceives it from the moral side only, without considering long term aspects for tourism in West Sumatra," Hellyward said.
Draping the Jam Gadang with cloth will be a first since it was built in 1926 by the Dutch colonial administration.
On an unrelated note, several cultural events, including a painting exhibition of several maestro's works, will be held in Yogyakarta to mark the new year.
Located in Yogyakarta's Cultural Park, the painting exhibition will display the works of Djoko Pekik, Suatmadji, Hari Budiono, AC Andre Tanama, Nasirun, Kartika Affandi and Samuel Indratma.
