Asks The Minister To Get Involved In The PCR Business To Resign, Jokowi Mania Makes Sure To Guard The Case

Illustration (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Volunteer groups supporting President Joko Widodo who are members of Jokowi Mania (JoMan) highlighted the issue of Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan and Minister of SOEs Erick Thohir who were suspected of being involved in the polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) business practice.

JoMan urged the ministers involved in procuring the PCR to resign from their posts. The reason is, the two ministers involved have profited from the suffering of the people due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Head of JoMan Imanuel Ebenezer, assessed that the emergence of the affiliation of the names of a number of ministers with the ownership of foundation shares in GSI Lab as PCR implementers is clearly embarrassing.

"They are already very rich. Their family businesses are everywhere, very profitable. From mining, gas, oil, chemical and other businesses," said Imanuel who is familiarly called Noel in Jakarta, Thursday, November 4.

Noel, who is also the chairman of GP Mania, emphasized that the involvement of officials in the PCR business is certainly very embarrassing. Because rich people like them should subsidize drugs, PCR and medical devices in Indonesia but instead seek profits from the state.

"Clarification of one of the spokesmen who said that only 10 percent of the PCR implementers were involved is clearly unreasonable. If so, try to open up the other 90 percent of the people," quipped this 98 activist.

Noel stated that JoMan would oversee the case of the ministers' involvement in the PCR business to law enforcement. Do not let, said Noel, those who are guilty but actually feel safe in their 'soft' position.

"We have identified the names of the ministers involved. Actually, it is clear from the minister's confession, which was initially refuted in the national media," said Noel.

It is known, the name of the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan and a number of coal company conglomerates are suspected of being involved in the PCR test business which is one of the tools to detect the Corona virus or COVID-19.

Luhut's name is associated with PT Genomics Solidaritas Indonesia (GSI). This company claims to have the largest and fastest laboratory in PCR test services.

Meanwhile, the Adaro Bangun Negeri Foundation, which is affiliated with PT Adaro Energy Tbk (Tbk), a company owned by the brother of SOE Minister Erick Thohir, Boy Thohir, ranked second.

Related to this, Noel said, procurement investment can be checked through import data and company tax invoices.

"Sadly again, many wealthy conglomerates are involved in this procurement business. It should be published immediately how much this PCR costs at the beginning of the pandemic," said Noel.