Vaccination At Islamic Boarding Schools, Head Of BIN Budi Gunawan: The Resilience Of The Unitary State Of The Republic Of Indonesia Is Here

JAKARTA - Head of the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) General (Ret.) Budi Gunawan said that one of BIN's main priorities is carrying out COVID-19 vaccinations in Islamic boarding schools.

"Pondok pesantren is the spearhead of our resilience, because this is where the younger generation is educated for the religious aspect, then nationalist and tolerant," Budi said in a written statement in Jakarta, reported by Antara, Sunday, August 1.

Budi Gunawan directly observed the implementation of the COVID-19 vaccination for students at the Ummul Qura Islamic Boarding School, Jl Pondok Cabe Raya, Pamulang, South Tangerang, Banten.

"The resilience of our NKRI is here, so this is a priority in accordance with President Joko Widodo's directives regarding vaccinations among students," explained Budi.

Budi said a total of 7,000 vaccinations that BIN intends to hold on Sunday, August 1, are spread across Banten, West Java, and East Java.

"Today we entered several points in Banten province, namely in Tangerang and then in Pandeglang. Then in Bekasi there are three boarding schools. Including in East Java, we visited five Islamic boarding schools to carry out the program," he said.

Budi Gunawan revealed that the reason for choosing the three regions was because they were in the black zone for the spread of COVID-19.

"We chose these spots because the spike in the positive rate was quite high and had become a black zone, so we entered the three points," said Budi.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Ummul Qura Islamic Boarding School KH Syarif Rahmat expressed his gratitude to BIN and all parties who worked hand in hand to fight against the corona virus.

"I hope to my brothers and sisters, kiai, scholars, teachers, all educators, and the community, to work hand in hand to help and convey that it is time for us to go to war. There should be no difference of opinion," explained Syarif.