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View all search resultsEast Java moves to regulate controversial horeg sound systems amid backlash
Doctors in Lumajang, East Java, have reported a rise in patients experiencing hearing problems after attending events featuring horeg sound systems.
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Maximum amplitude: A truck is loaded with massive speakers as part of a traveling horeg sound system in this undated photo. A sound system business owner said event organizers would cover the cost of renovations for any damaged property caused by powerful speakers and subwoofers resulting from horeg setups. (JP/Yohana Belinda)
T
he East Java administration has finally issued a regulation on the use of horeg sound systems, following growing public complaints over the controversial yet increasingly popular form of entertainment.
Horeg, which means “to move” or “vibrate” in Javanese, refers to the practice of stacking large speakers to produce extremely loud music with intense bass that can literally shake walls, shatter windows and even bring down roofs.
Originating in parts of East Java in the early 2000s, the practice has surged in popularity in recent years, fueled by social media exposure.
In recent years, event organizers and enthusiasts often mount towering stacks of speakers on trucks for parades and even on boats. Sound system battles have also emerged, where groups compete to deliver the loudest, most powerful audio using horeg setups.
However, as the practice has gained popularity, growing numbers of residents have voiced concerns about the noise pollution caused by horeg sound systems, particularly on vulnerable groups such as the elderly, young children and those with health issues.
Amid growing controversy over the use of horeg sound systems, East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa has issued a circular aimed at regulating the popular form of street entertainment. The directive seeks to ensure that such activities do not “disturb public order and peace, or violate religious, moral or legal norms”.
“The use of horeg sound systems remains permitted in East Java, but it must adhere to the guidelines set out in the circular. Our goal is to maintain peace, harmony and public order across the province,” Khofifah said over the weekend.
