Solo, CNN Indonesia —
The official car of the elected Vice President who is also the Mayor of Solo, Gibran Rakabuming Raka was left in the Solo Paragon Mall Lobby, Saturday (6/7). The car with plate number AD 1 A was parked in front of the main entrance of the mall which is the location for the Non-Halal Culinary Festival in Solo.
Marketing Communication for Solo Paragon Mal, Veronica Lahji, admitted that she had been contacted by Gibran’s aide regarding the car.
“Mas Gibran’s car will be on standby during the Chinatown Archipelago event at Solo Paragon Mall from this morning at 10.00 until the 7th (July 2024) after the event,” said Vero.
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Vero was reluctant to explain the purpose of Gibran’s parking in front of the Nusantara Chinatown Culinary Festival. He believes the public understands this.
“The real goal is that the people of Solo City already know. Usually, Mas Gibran’s car is standing by for what purpose,” he said.
Gibran himself has several times left his official car in locations deemed problematic. The first time Gibran left his car at the Gajahan Subdistrict Office after one of the residents complained about illegal levies from the subdistrict. Gibran also once left his car at the site of grave destruction at the Cemoro Kembar public cemetery (TPU), Pasar Kliwon District.
Apart from that, Gibran also twice left his car at school in violation of the Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) regulations during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Previously, the Legendary Chinatown Culinary Festival was temporarily stopped, Wednesday (3/7). Solo Paragon Mall management temporarily stopped the event after receiving protests from several community groups. One of them is the Surakarta City Sharia Council (DSKS).
DSKS, which objected to the event, sent a written letter to the Solo City Government (Pemkot) and the Surakarta Police.
DSKS Public Relations, Endro Sudarsono, clarified that his party had never demanded that the culinary festival at Solo Paragon Mall be stopped. They only object to promotions of non-halal culinary events that are too vulgar.
However, the Non-Halal Culinary Festival itself was held again on Thursday (4/7). The organizers apply quite strict restrictions. The area where the Culinary Festival was held was tightly covered with cloth, including from above so that it could not be seen from the second floor.
Not only that, visitors are also limited specifically to non-Muslims.
“No one wearing the hijab can enter. We have made the entrance strictly guarded by our security,” said Vero.
(syd/asa)
[Gambas:Video CNN]
