REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, SURABAYA -- Surabaya Mayor Tri Rismaharini has offered an apology for a restriction on media access at the Surabaya Zoo while allowing journalists to carry out media activities at the zoo as usual.
Speaking to the press here on Sunday, Risma said she was fully aware of acting president director of the Surabaya Zoo Aschta Boestani Tajudin's decision to restrict media access at the zoo as he was an animal conservator.
"What's on my mind is that he always thinks of how to protect animals from disturbance. This way, the animals can live comfortably and quietly. Neither does he have any marketing experience," she said.
Risma said she phoned Aschta shortly after learning the restriction on media access at the zoo.
She told Aschta that there was no problem when journalists carried out media activities at the zoo.
"His experience in animal conservation is okay apparently because he seldom lives in urban area. So he has no good communication skill," she said.
Asked to comment on the zoo's plan to raise entrance tickets, Risma gave her assurance that there would not be entrance ticket hike.
With budget allocations from the city to the zoo, she believed the zoo would continue to operate without having to raise entrance tickets.
Deputy Chief of the Surabaya City Legislative Council Masduki Toha regretted the restriction on media access at the zoo, saying it was wrong.
"The Surabaya Zoo is public property. Don't make a rule unilaterally. The public want to know any happening at the zoo. Don't cover up information by restricting media access there," he said.
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