Agus Gumiwang: Many People Say I Am A 'Mass Murderer'

Minister of Industry, Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita. (Photo: Ministry of Industry)

JAKARTA - Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang told that the public accused the Ministry of Industry of being a 'mass murderer'. The allegations stem from the ministry's decision to grant factories operating permits amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The government through the Ministry of Industry has allowed manufacturing industries or factories to run their businesses in the midst of the pandemic. However, on condition that these factories have obtained the Operational Permit and Industrial Activity Mobility (IOMKI).

According to Agus, since the existence of this policy, he has received repeated criticism from the public through his short messages on WhatsApp (WA). Moreover, after this policy came into effect, several cases emerged, COVID-19 clusters in various factories in Indonesia, including HM Sampoerna, Unilever, Hitachi and others.

"This is from the beginning when the pandemic entered Indonesia, I remember very well when I took this policy I received a lot of criticism, repeatedly entered my personal WA. He said I was a mass murderer because I let factories operate," said Agus, in a virtual discussion. , Tuesday, August 4.

Agus said, although IOMKI was issued and the factory could operate, face-to-face must be accompanied by a disciplined protocol. According to him, this has been socialized through a circular (SE).

Furthermore, Agus said, through the Ministry of Industry Number 8/2020 concerning Reporting Obligations for Industrial Companies and Industrial Estate Companies that have IOMKI. He emphasized that companies must report on the operational implementation and mobility of industrial activities on a weekly basis.

"They also have to routinely report to the Ministry of Industry every week through the SIINas portal. Activities in each industry are especially related to reporting on the implementation of health protocols, reporting whether any labor employees and their workers have been exposed, and how they handle it," he explained.

According to Agus, this company report is required to find out how health is handled in the factory. Because, in the Circular that has been issued there are SOPs that must be done in handling if a case is found in their company.

Agus believes his decision to grant factory operating permits in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic can help the national economy keep moving and not fall too deep.

"We have other considerations (to enforce the policy) and thank God, we really believe that the policies that were taken when the pandemic entered has helped our economy not to suffer further," he said.

For your information, there are 68 offices that are part of the COVID-19 cluster in Jakarta as of July 26. A total of 440 employees tested positive for the virus which was first discovered in Wuhan Province, China.

Previously, a number of employees of the PT Unilever Indonesia Tbk (UNVR) factory in Cikarang, West Java had tested positive for COVID-19. The plant's operational activities were temporarily suspended.

Likewise, PT HM Sampoerna Tbk (HMSP) decided to close one of its production facilities, namely the Rungkut 2 factory in Surabaya, and the surrounding area after employees working at the factory tested positive for COVID-19.