SIDOARJO, LITERASIHUKUM.COM — The action of an elderly man closing road access in Sidokare Asri Housing Complex, Sidoarjo, went viral on social media and triggered complaints from residents. In a number of circulating CCTV recordings, residents are seen forced to reverse their cars because the road is impassable. Some even dare to cross with the risk of scratching their vehicles. Netizens then dubbed the incident “Sidokare Branch of the Strait of Hormuz” because alternative road access in the housing complex was unilaterally closed.

Head of Neighborhood Association 53 Community Association 16 of Sidokare Asri Housing Complex, Abdul Rofik, confirmed the viral incident. According to him, the event was recorded when a resident was about to exit through a closed road access. Rofik also mentioned that such road closures are not the first time this has happened. He said that the resident in question often personally closes road access, which eventually triggers disputes with other road users.

 

Illustration Image of Road Closure by Elderly
Illustration of Road Closure by an Elderly Person (Source: AI Chat GPT)

 

Rofik emphasized that the portal or barrier used to close the road is not an official RT facility, but was created by the resident themselves. In the circulating video, the road closure was reportedly carried out using clotheslines, iron signboards, and even directly guarded while carrying sticks. Rofik said that the neighborhood administrators also do not know for sure the reason why the resident repeatedly closed road access because there has never been an official notification to the RT administrators.

After the video went viral, neighborhood administrators and residents reportedly conducted mediation. Rofik conveyed that it is hoped that the issue will be resolved and not repeated. This incident also confirms that road access in residential areas cannot be unilaterally closed when the road is used jointly by other residents.