Jokowi Asks For Extension Of Emergency PPKM To Be Properly Reviewed, Ganjar: The Government Must Listen To The People
SEMARANG - Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo believes that the central government should listen to the voices of the people regarding the possibility of extending the emergency PPKM to anticipate the spread of COVID-19.
"If the emergency PPKM is extended with the same pattern as this, the public is heavy, I ask the government to listen to the voices of the people," said Ganjar Pranowo in Semarang, quoted by Antara, Monday, July 19.
According to Ganjar, if the emergency PPKM is to be extended, the central government must look for more subtle ways even though everything is tightened but it should not be as it is now.
He gave an example that stalls and restaurants are still allowed to serve meals on the spot with a note that they must obey health protocols and cannot be ignored.
"It's okay to serve food in a place as long as you obey the health protocol. If you violate it, you will be given a warning, if you are angry, it will be closed, but the food can be arranged, in my opinion, it's softer," he said.
Ganjar admitted that he saw for himself how difficult the implementation of emergency PPKM was among small traders.
"I don't have the heart, how can there be people selling pecel, sitting there are friends of ojol, pedicab drivers. 'It's a pity, they can't buy food and then eat it elsewhere. who work around," he said.
In this regard, if the emergency PPKM is extended, the government may allow food stalls to serve food on the spot with strict implementation of health protocols.
"If they sell on the sidewalk, for example, they have eaten there, spaced it out with a criss-cross image. I think that's a good compromise," he said.
Regarding the closure of malls, Ganjar also suggested that malls may remain open as long as procedures are strict. If there are visitors who do not wear masks, and there are no restrictions on the number of visitors, they will be immediately closed.
"So, that's actually the ways that can be done if you want to be extended because the screams of the community say it's heavy," he said.
The government, Ganjar continued, could still make decisions on the extension of the emergency PPKM with the existing model as it is today. However, there must be efforts to collect data and prepare forces to help people stay at home.
Referring to the readiness of the Central Java Provincial Government, Ganjar said that his party had prepared a refocusing scenario. However, his party is still looking at the conditions in the field because assistance from the center and the district has already been given.
"That's why I talked to the village head/lurah and the regent/mayor to prepare for the refocusing. We have prepared the scenario, yes, it's tough, but like it or not, the government must be ready," he said.
Previously, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said that the option to extend the emergency PPKM had to be carefully studied. The decision on whether or not to extend the emergency PPKM must be seriously considered.
"This is a question from the community today, one important thing that we need to answer is whether the emergency PPKM will be extended or not? If you want it to be extended, how long? This is really a very sensitive matter, it must be decided with a clear mind, not to be mistaken," said Jokowi in the evaluation process of the emergency PPKM, Friday, July 16, whose video was uploaded to Youtube by the Presidential Secretariat, Saturday, July 17.