Mall Entrepreneurs: No Matter How Many Times PPKM Is Extended, It Will Not Be Effective In Suppressing Positive Cases Of COVID-19

Illustration. (Photo: Unsplash)

JAKARTA - The Association of Indonesian Shopping Center Managers (APPBI) considers that the continued extension of the Policy for the Implementation of Restrictions on Community Activities (PPKM) levels 4 and 3 in Java and Bali indicates the ineffectiveness of the policy in suppressing the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

Chairman of APPBI Alphonzus Widjaja said businessmen were worried that the government would continue to extend PPKM levels 4 and 3 in Java and Bali. This is because this condition creates economic uncertainty, especially in shopping centers whose activities are still limited.

Therefore, according to Alphonzus, the government needs to evaluate the policies that will be taken before they are actually implemented in the field.

"So this is indeed quite worrying with the extension of PPKM based on this level, because it will continue to be prolonged. With several extensions it has actually become evidence that PPKM based on level or emergency has not been effective (suppressing the spread of COVID-19)," he said when contacted by VOI, Tuesday , August 3rd.

Alphonzus assesses that the government has not been serious in evaluating the policies that will be taken up to now. Even restrictive policies to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the country tend to be wrong. This is because the delta variant of the COVID-19 virus mutation actually spreads more in the smallest or micro environment such as family clusters.

Furthermore, said Alphonzus, the restrictions were actually carried out on a macro reach, namely public activity centers. Therefore, the government should focus on the spread of COVID-19 in the family environment. Meanwhile, public facilities that have strictly implemented health protocols can operate.

"So the handling should be, the implementation of more restrictions at the micro level, but what is happening now is the restrictions are happening at the macro level. With the closure of shopping centers, this is actually at the macro level," he said.

As is known, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has decided to extend the implementation of Level 4 Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) from August 3 to August 9, 2021. The extension applies to certain districts or cities.

To reduce the burden on the community, the government continues to encourage acceleration in social assistance for the community. Starting from the Family Hope Program (PKH), cash social assistance (BST) and village cash assistance (BLT Desa). There is also assistance for micro and small businesses, street vendors and food stalls, as well as salary subsidies.