Next Year, No More Selling Animals on City Streets: Basuki

Jakarta Globe, Lenny Tristia Tambun, October 11, 2013

Animals are sold on the street for Idul Adha on October 9, 2013 in
Surabaya, East Java. (JG Photo/Dhana Kencana)

Jakarta Deputy Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama said on Friday that vendors selling animals for the Muslim holiday of Idul Adha will from next year be prohibited from trading on the city’s sidewalks.

“[The practice] is still permitted for this year, but people will not be able to sell [animals for the sacrifice] on sidewalks next year,” Basuki said.

It is common in Jakarta for vendors to sell goats, sheep and cows for Idul Adha.

Basuki said that Central Jakarta Mayor Saifullah signed a written agreement with the city on Monday saying that sellers could not trade animals and take up public space next year, though no such agreement has yet been reached in other parts of the city.

Kukuh Hadi Santoso, the head of the Jakarta Public Order Agency (Satpol PP), said that even though the practice violates a local bylaw, his institution has still been tolerating it.

“The sellers have already purchased the animals,” he said. “This year is the last year that they will be able to sell on the streets.