Jokowi Revokes Presidential Regulation Of Alcohol Investment, Mahfud MD: The Government Is Not Allergic To Criticism And Suggestions

JAKARTA - The Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD said the government was not allergic to criticism and suggestions from the public.

This is proven by the revocation of the attachment to Presidential Decree No.10/2021 concerning the Investment Business Sector which legalized investment in liquor (alcohol) by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi).

The Presidential Decree had caused a polemic in the community and the Ulama (Islamic scholars). Religious organizations such as Nahdatul Ulama (NU), Muhammadiyah, and parties based on religion have also rejected this regulation.

"When there is criticism about alcohol investment permits for certain areas, the government revokes them. So the government is not allergic to criticism and suggestions", Mahfud was quoted as saying on his Twitter account @mohmahfudmd, Wednesday, March 3.

Furthermore, Mahfud also brought up the problem of COVID-19 vaccination which had drawn criticism some time ago where initially vaccines were only free for the lower class and certain classes had to pay.

"Initially, vaccines would be free for low cost and paid for a certain class. There are critics, all of them should be free. The government accepts the criticism and free vaccines for all. There is another criticism, companies that want to vaccinate independently should be allowed. Ok, the government allows it", he said.

The former Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court (MK) said that as long as the criticism delivered was rational and the voice of the people was correct, the government would respond to it. "The government is accommodating to criticism and suggestions. Criticism is a vitamin that must be absorbed into the government", he said.

Previously reported, the President Previously, Jokowi canceled attachments number 31, 32, 33, 45, and 46 in Presidential Regulation (Perpres) Number 10 of 2021 concerning the Investment Business Sector. This Perpres opens the tap for investment in liquor companies in several provinces.

Jokowi said the decision to cancel the opening of alcohol investment was made after receiving input from several organizations and religious leaders who opposed the Perpres.

"After receiving input from Ulama, MUI, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Muhammadiyah, and other mass organizations, as well as other religious figures, as well as input from provinces and regions, I hereby decide on an attachment to the Presidential Decree regarding the opening of investment. It was only recently that I declared that the alcohol-containing liquor industry was revoked", said Jokowi.