Jakarta. President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo said on Tuesday the police and the military will be involved in enforcing "new normal" guidelines as several cities plan to loosen large-scale social restrictions put in place to curb the spread of Covid-19. 

Around 340,000 officers will be deployed in 25 cities across four provinces initially to enforce the guidelines in public places so economic activities can resume.

A total of 1,800 public spots have been earmarked for the officers in Jakarta, West Sumatra, West Java and Gorontalo – all provinces that have had the large-scale social restriction (PSBB) in place. 

"Military and police officers have been deployed at [Jakarta's] MRT stations starting today. The officers will make sure everyone follow the health protocol," Jokowi said after inspecting the Bundaran HI MRT Station in Central Jakarta on Tuesday.

The president was accompanied by Indonesian Military Chief Gen. Hadi Tjahjanto and National Police Chief Gen. Idham Azis. 

According to Jokowi, disciplinary actions would be taken against people who flout the new normal rules. 

"The officers' job is to spread awareness [of the new normal guidelines] and remind people to follow them so we can flatten the pandemic's curve. The pandemic reproduction number in several provinces is already below one," the president said.

Hadi said the new normal protocols would be released in stages.

In the first stage, shopping malls and restaurants will be allowed to reopen at 50 percent capacity.

"We will make sure everyone wear masks and keep a safe distance from others. We want people to resume their activities but we also don't want any more people to catch Covid-19," Hadi said.

Jakarta Might Still Extend PSBB

Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan said public behavior will determine if the PSBB will be extended in Jakarta after its June 4 expiry date.

"It won't be the government or the experts who determine if the restriction will be extended, but people's behavior. But if the PSBB is lifted after June 4, Jakarta will immediately apply the new normal protocol," Anies said as he accompanied the president on Tuesday.

The governor also said the Jakarta provincial government is preparing its own special protocol for the new normal since every region in Indonesia has different characteristics.