Surabaya Malls Shorten Fences After Mayor's Appeal

Pakuwon Group, a major mall operator in Surabaya, East Java, has decided to shorten the fences surrounding its properties, including Tunjungan Plaza (TP) and Pakuwon Mall. This move comes in response to an appeal from Surabaya Mayor Eri Cahyadi, who urged mall managers to avoid excessively high fences to maintain the city's aesthetics and prevent public anxiety. Sutandi Purnomosidi, Director of Marketing at Pakuwon Group, stated that the company is complying with the mayor's directive. "We will tidy it up, in accordance with the appeal from the Mayor of Surabaya, Mr. Eri Cahyadi, to maintain the city's aesthetics," he said. The fence adjustments will primarily focus on Tunjungan Plaza and Pakuwon Mall, where the current fence heights are considered to detract from the main building's appearance. "What we are tidying up or shortening is at TP and Pakuwon Barat. Because aesthetically, it covers the main building in those two locations," Sutandi explained. The process involves dismantling the existing fences, cutting them to a lower height, and then reinstalling them. "So it's shortened, cut shorter. We take it down first, then shorten it, and then put it back up," he added. Sutandi emphasized that the decision is solely aimed at preserving the image and beauty of Surabaya, not for any other reason. "The message is to maintain the aesthetics of Surabaya City." Previously, Mayor Eri Cahyadi had asked mall managers in the "City of Heroes" not to raise their fences. He believes Surabaya is a safe city and its residents have no need for excessive security measures that might negatively impact the urban landscape. He mentioned meeting with mall operators and advising them against such installations, as high fences can create a sense of fear, contradicting the city's safe image. In early July 2026, several malls under Pakuwon Group in Surabaya had conspicuously erected tall, pointed fences around their premises. This sparked public discussion on social media, with many linking it to concerns about a sluggish economy. However, the management firmly denied this. Malls owned by Pakuwon Group that had begun constructing fences around their areas include Pakuwon Mall in West Surabaya, Royal Plaza in South Surabaya, Pakuwon City Mall in East Surabaya, and Tunjungan Plaza in Central Surabaya.