Jokowi Bans All Ministers And Heads Of Institutions From Going Overseas During Emergency Community Actvity Restrictions

JAKARTA - President Jokowi forbade all ministers and all heads of institutions to travel abroad during Emergency Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM).

"All ministers, heads of institutions, are prohibited from traveling abroad", said Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung conveying Jokowi's instructions on the Presidential Secretariat's Youtube video, Friday, July 16.

Pramono said that only Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi was allowed to be allowed to go abroad. Because Retno has interests that are in line with her field of work. Meanwhile, if anyone plans to go abroad, they must get permission from Jokowi.

"Others, if there are special things, they must get permission directly from the president", said Pramono.

Pramono explained that the reason Jokowi forbade all ranks of his government to go abroad was that the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia was in crisis.

"The President has emphasized that in this Emergency PPKM, there must be a sense of crisis for all ministries, institutions, leaders", said Pramono.

In addition, Pramono also announced Jokowi's decision to cancel the individual paid vaccination program included in the Mutual Cooperation (Gotong Royong) vaccination scheme.

"After getting input and also responses from the public, the President has given strict directions for paid vaccines that are planned to be distributed through Kimia Farma, all of which are canceled and revoked", said Pramono.

With that said Pramono, all vaccines will still be carried out using a free mechanism. Then, matters relating to mutual cooperation vaccination, the mechanism remains through the company. The company that will pay for the vaccination of all employees.

"Thus, the mechanism for all vaccines, whether it's Mutual Cooperation or those that are currently running, will be made free with the government", said Pramono.