BATAMCLICK.COM: The sky was overcast as a crane slowly lifted a 4×6 meter billboard from the roadside near Eden Park Housing Complex on Tuesday (June 17, 2025). Below, Batam’s Task Force team moved swiftly, dismantling yet another unlicensed advertisement structure in a city-wide crackdown.
The operation was overseen by the head of the Task Force, who also serves as Batam’s Regional Secretary, Jefridin, M.Pd, accompanied by Batam’s Head of Civil Service Police (Satpol PP), Imam Tohari.
“Our team goes out every day. Today we’re working around Simpang Duta Mas. This is not just about enforcing regulations—it’s about public safety and restoring the city’s image,” said Jefridin.
He reminded business owners who have received warning letters to voluntarily take down their billboards before the June 30 deadline. Since May 27, a total of 273 illegal billboards have been removed.
The task force is focusing on main roads, where many billboards were found to be built without proper permits, failing to pay rent for public land, or skipping tax obligations. These violations were highlighted in recent findings from the State Audit Agency (BPK).
“This issue has drawn serious attention not only from Mayor Amsakar Achmad and Deputy Mayor Li Claudia Chandra, but also from President Prabowo Subianto,” Jefridin emphasized.
Beyond enforcing the law, the city government is striving to ensure both road safety and urban aesthetics. “Our goal is to maintain safety on the roads while preserving the clean and orderly look of Batam as a modern city,” he added.
Currently, the Batam City Government, in collaboration with BP Batam and the State Attorney’s Office, is reviewing Local Regulation No. 50 of 2024 concerning billboard management.
“The revision will reflect the vision of a modern city that is not only visually clean, but also structurally safe,” Jefridin concluded.
