Luhut To Former Official Who Criticizes Quarantine Discretion: Not Wise, We Know What To Do

Photo by Fikri Rasyid on Unsplash

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Panjaitan asked that no party should compare the quarantine discretion of state officials, prominent people, and ordinary people.

According to Luhut, the quarantine discretion given to state officials is universal. Discretion, he continued, was not only applied in Indonesia.

"Anything regarding travel, there is discretion to echelon 1 and so on, it is given universally. Not only in Indonesia. Why? Because the state mechanism must continue to work. But of course with strict supervision. So don't clash, fight between officials government, between the rich and ordinary people," Luhut said in a virtual press conference, Monday, December 27.

Without mentioning names, Luhut then satirized a former state official who previously questioned the different treatment of quarantine policies towards officials and ordinary people.

"I don't think it's wise for former officials to talk like that. We know what we have to do now with our experience so far. We will give our best for this Republic," Luhut explained. The Java-Bali PPKM coordinator did not explain to whom the satire was directed.

Luhut did not mention the former official he was referring to. However, one of the former officials who took issue with this quarantine dispensation is the former Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Susi Pudjiastuti. Through her Twitter account, Susi questioned why officials were allowed to quarantine at home, while ordinary people had to be quarantined in a centralized manner or at a hotel.

"Please enlightenment, why can officials & important people quarantine at their own homes?? Why can't people quarantine at home alone?? Why can only be thrifty or stingy officials / VIPs?? Why can't people be thrifty / stingy?? Why quarantine different," tweeted @susipudjiastuti.

Please enlighten me, why can officials & important people quarantine at their own homes ?? Why can't people quarantine at home ??Why can only be thrifty or stingy officials / VIPs?? Why can't people be thrifty / stingy ??why is the quarantine method different pic.twitter.com/PlYYQgDD6L

— Susi Pudjiastuti (@susipudjiastuti) December 21, 2021