The Government Is Highlighted For Having Given India Oxygen Assistance, Mahfud MD: It Doesn't Have To Be A Problem, It's Normal

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD spoke about the public spotlight on oxygen assistance that Indonesia had given to India some time ago.

According to him, the assistance that has been given should not be a problem. Moreover, in international relations, mutual assistance between governments is a common thing.

"Regarding the issue of oxygen assistance from Indonesia to India last May, I think if we read the history of relations between countries, it doesn't need to be a problem. Because Indonesia often receives assistance", Mahfud said as quoted from the video description uploaded on the Coordinating Ministry of Polhukam RI's YouTube Channel, Friday, 9 July.

Moreover, last May when the government provided assistance to India because conditions in the country were stable and there was no increase in positive cases. At that time, India needed help due to the health crisis caused by COVID-19.

So the Indonesian government at that time decided to provide assistance in the form of medical oxygen to India.

"We helped in early May when the recovery rate in our country was almost always higher than the infected. So, (supply, ed) there was still a lot of oxygen, then India was in serious condition, then We (Indonesia) helped", said Mahfud.

The former Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court (MK) later said that Indonesia had also helped other countries such as Japan when it was hit by the tsunami and Australia when it was hit by a big fire.

Even though the two countries are richer, when there are difficulties, Indonesia will provide assistance as much as possible. This, continued Mahfud, is common, especially in international relations.

"That's normal in international relations. These countries have humanitarian programs such as (sending, ed) aid for medicine and food. That's normal", he said.

Furthermore, Mahfud said, currently there are a number of countries that have offered assistance to the Indonesian government. Thus, he asked the public not to take into account the assistance sent by the Indonesian government to other countries.

"It's normal for us to help and be assisted, not just calculate. Now, when we are exponential, several countries offer assistance. The aid plan that goes to us is oxygen cylinders", said Mahfud.

As previously reported, the Indonesian government had sent humanitarian aid to India in the form of 200 oxygen concentrator units last May. This assistance was given at the direction of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi).

At that time, India was experiencing a health crisis due to soaring positive cases of COVID-19 and resulting in death and oxygen scarcity for hospitalized patients.