A man in the West Java city of Bogor has achieved viral infamy for breaking the rules related to the Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB) protocol and firmly standing his ground, apparently in the name of love and out of respect for his wife and God.
The 44-year-old man, who identified himself as Endang, was filmed unleashing his anger and frustration at police officers as he refused to obey a PSBB rule that requires front passenger seats to remain vacant. The video, filmed yesterday in Bogor’s Simpang Empang area, has gone viral and shared across social media platforms.
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“I don‘t accept this. Send my regards to [Bogor Mayor] Bima Arya. This is the principle of my life, as well as a Muslim man who respects his wife. I don’t want to move my wife to the backseat. I sleep with my wife, why should we be separated inside the car? Use your head,” Endang can be heard shouting at the officers.
Though PSBB rules vary by region, in the Greater Jakarta Area, the protocol states that cars are not allowed to contain more than half of their official capacity in passengers. The rule also states that the front passenger seat must remain vacant so a good distance is kept between everyone in the car, regardless of whether or not they are family.
Endang, who donned a loose face mask, argued the passenger seat rule made little sense since motorcyclists are still allowed to carry a passenger on the pillion as long as their documents show that they share the same address.
“I respect the regulations, but I respect the rules of Allah more. I, as a husband, should respect my wife, I don’t want to move my wife to the backseat of the car,” he said, adding that he has obeyed other COVID-19 protocols such as the wearing of face masks and using hand sanitizer.
Dody Wahyudi, who heads the Traffic Unit of Bogor City’s Transportation Agency, said that Endang was only given a verbal warning during the incident to avoid physical contact.
Endang’s not-so-kind regards have evidently been received by Bima Arya, who himself recovered from COVID-19 just last month. Bima said rules under PSBB should be obeyed as they are in order to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
“All regulations have been considered very carefully. This is for the greater good even though it doesn’t feel good or makes one uncomfortable. Let’s just follow the rules,” Bima said in a text message, as quoted by state news agency Antara.
“[Drivers and passengers] in a car can still keep their distance. And [the enforcement of the rule] should be strict. It’s hard to exclude [the rule] for husbands and wives, because it will be complicated when it comes to giving proof and such. There is no option to keep a distance on motorcycles, so it’s allowed with considerations for those in emergency.”
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