The PCR Business Problem That Drags Luhut And Erick Thohir's Names, Bahlil: Don't Keep Episodes, It's Over

Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Investment Minister/Head of BKPM Bahlil Lahadalia asked the public not to discuss the polemic of the PCR test business which has recently become a hot topic of discussion. He invites all parties to look to a better future.

As is known, there are two names of assistant ministers to President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) who were dragged into the alleged PCR business game in the country, namely Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan and Minister of SOEs Erick Thohir. The PCR test became a public spotlight after the government had made the results of the health test a condition for air travel in the Java and Bali regions.

"For my brother, my seniors, my friends are activists, I understand the PCR problem, let's not continue with too many episodes. It's finished," he said in a virtual press conference, Thursday, November 11.

Bahlil said that handling the COVID-19 pandemic in the country is not an easy thing to do.

"The important thing is how to look at the future better, because controlling COVID-19 is not easy, you know. It's not easy, it takes hard work," he said.

Furthermore, Bahlil explained that so far the government has been trying to control the pandemic in the country. These efforts have yielded results, Indonesia's economic growth in the third quarter of 2021 is still maintained in the range of 3.5 percent.

According to Bahlil, the opportunity to improve economic growth in the fourth quarter is also very wide open because the pandemic cases in the country have been controlled. Moreover, public confidence at home and abroad is also claimed to be getting better along with the economic transformation built by the government.

Furthermore, Bahlil said that bad news could actually be detrimental because it would make people distrust Indonesia. Therefore, he asked to preach only good but still objective.

"This is our momentum to share only good news, in an objective context. Don't be like people who pray, who are encouraged by the sunnah which must not be done. The obligation is good, sometimes the sunnah is a bit scattered as if this sunnah is always wrong," he said .

Bahlil said the government had worked optimally in dealing with the pandemic in the country. This includes building the confidence of foreign investors to invest in the country in line with the improving national economy. However, this effort will not be optimal if it is not assisted by positive news from the mass media.

"Even though we, the government, have worked optimally, if the media doesn't help, I don't think we will get maximum results," he said.

Previously, the mention of Luhut and Erick's names in the PCR business started from Agustinus' statement that a number of ministers were related to the PCR test business. Agustinus revealed this through his Facebook account.

Initially, Agustinus quoted mass media reports about the PCR laboratory owned by politicians and conglomerates. In his upload, he said the composition of shareholders of PT Genomik Solidaritas Indonesia (GSI) had an affiliation with Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan.

The companies are PT Toba Bumi Energi and PT Toba Sejahtera. Agustinus explained that Luhut has a small stake in the two companies, of which Luhut is also known as the founder.

He linked Erick Thohir with the Adaro Bangun Negeri Foundation which is related to PT Adaro Energy Tbk (ADRO). The company is headed by Erick's older brother, Garibaldi "Boy" Thohir.

"The minister is affiliated with PT Genomics Solidaritas Indonesia. The PT business unit is GSI Lab which sells all kinds of COVID-19 tests: Sameday PCR Swab (275 thousand), Antigen Swab (95,000), PCR Mouth (495 thousand) thousand), S-RBD Quantitative Antibody (249 thousand)," wrote Agustinus.

The two ministers of President Jokowi's government were also reported to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). This report was carried out by the People's Party of Justice and Prosperity (PRIMA). This report emerged because of rumors that the two ministers in the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet were playing behind the PCR business.

"We want to report outside rumors that there are allegations that several ministers are related to the PCR business, especially if the ones that have been mentioned by many media are the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and the Minister of State-Owned Enterprises, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan and Erick Thohir," said PRIMA Deputy General Chair Alif Kamal. after submitting the report at the KPK's Red and White Building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Thursday, November 4.

As for the basis for this report, said Alif, because the alleged business is making people difficult in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, this report was made because the price of PCR tests often changes and the basic price is not clear.