Approaching presidential election on upcoming July 9, Jakarta Provincial Government together with the City Police works intensively in anticipating security disturbances that might occur in the capital city. North Jakarta will be the area where the security will be focused, and a company consists of 100 personnel will be deployed to guard Pluit Reservoir, Penjaringan.

In areas where there are reservoirs, dams, or water pumps, security personnel deployed could reach up to 1,500 men or 15 companies

Acting Jakarta Governor Basuki T Purnama said the security is deliberately focused in North Jakarta because it is intended to keep the reservoir and sluice from being damaged which could lead to flood in the city.

“In areas where there are reservoirs, dams, or water pumps, security personnel deployed could reach up to 1,500 men or 15 companies. We must be on guard, because what if they (irresponsible people) damaged the reservoir? The state palace could be drowned. So, a company (100 personnel) deployed to guard Pluit Reservoir,” he stated, Monday (7/7).

According to Basuki, Jakarta Provincial Government does not want to take any risks. Therefore, the police force is asked to be fully alert during the election day.

“We don’t want any risks, got dangers in all of a sudden. This is because one of their (police) alert targets is, for instance, the West Flood Canal got collapsed. They have thought about things like that. The army and the police are more connected. As for Satpol PP, they will only assist because it is only a routine. We’ll not do anything because there are police and the army,” he uttered.

For information, as many as 7,096,168 Jakartans are listed in fix voters list (DPT) for presidential election this year. The number increases compared to DPT in legislative election on last April 9 where there were only 7,001,520 voters.