Faisal Basri Insinuates The 'Warlord' Of COVID-19 Airlangga Hartarto Who Only Talks About The Economy

DOC ANTARA/Airlangga Hartarto

JAKARTA - Senior economist Faisal Basri highlighted the decision of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to choose Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto to be the chairman of the committee for handling COVID-19 and national economic recovery (KPC-PEN).

Fasial said that to solve the pandemic problem, Indonesia needed a real warlord. This is related to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases. As of Sunday, June 13, there were 13,737 new cases.

"I don't want to criticize but this has been called, yes, this needs a warlord. Do we know who the warlord is? The president is the supreme commander. The warlord is the Coordinating Minister for the Economy. talk about economic growth. Now he is silent," he said in a virtual discussion, Sunday, June 20.

Faisal assessed that the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic was more oriented to the economic sector. The government even argues that health care can be balanced with economic recovery. In fact, the consensus of economists around the world has stated that the health crisis must first be resolved as a condition for economic recovery.

According to Faisal, a number of economists have also conveyed this to Jokowi since last year. According to him, the handling of the pandemic must be completed with a health approach.

"So maybe we are at a loss for words. One more year to remind, leave this health crisis issue to the experts. Because this is like a universal war that is heavier than a physical universe war," he said.

If the pandemic problem is solved using a health science approach, said Faisal, the cost of recovery to be borne by the state will be cheaper than it is now. Meanwhile, according to Faisal, the government's logic is still reversed.

According to Faisal, Indonesia is not too late to handle the crisis. Like other countries, Indonesia can implement a two-week lockdown policy so that the number of positive cases of COVID-19 that has soared after Eid 2021 can be suppressed.

"I think it's not too late to return to the tracks, Mr. President, please stop talking about gas brakes, gas brakes. The most effective brake right now is lockdown. But it won't be done. economic gas," said Faisal.

Faisal said that regarding the need for a large budget that is needed during health management policies, it is the economy ministers who are in charge of thinking about it. This is because the minister of economics is tasked with finding funds.

"The business of economic ministers is to find money, if you need to look for debt, it's okay to settle all of this. Because this debt will be paid quickly if the recovery occurs quickly. So believe me that the cost will be more expensive if the health crisis is not completely resolved ," he said.