Ministry Of Home Affairs Reminds Regional Heads To Obey The Prohibition Of Traveling Abroad

Acting Secretary General of the Ministry of Home Affairs Suhajar Diantoro /PHOTO VIA ANTARA

JAKARTA - Acting Secretary General of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Suhajar Diantoro, asked regional heads to obey the ban on traveling abroad.

Suhajar Diantoro said the move was to avoid the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, especially now that the number of transmission cases in Indonesia tends to increase.

"We have seen that it is likely that Omicron will increase in Indonesia, in the forecast calculation it will occur in February," said Suhajar as quoted by Antara, Tuesday, January 19.

The estimate, he said, was in accordance with a release from the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes). In the release, it is said that it is likely that the peak of cases of the Omicron variant will occur in February and will only subside in the second week of March 2022.

Suhajar conveyed that President Joko Widodo when chairing a limited meeting (ratas) on Sunday, January 16, 2022, asked all people to limit themselves from traveling abroad, including government officials. Only very essential activities are allowed to travel abroad.

"Therefore, I need to convey to my friends if there are governors, deputy governors, regents, deputy regents, mayors, deputy mayors, and other friends who want to go abroad, please convey that we (Kemendagri) are now closing permission first," he explained.

Suhajar asked regional heads to concentrate on controlling the spread of the COVID-19 virus in the field, such as enforcing health protocols, accelerating vaccinations, and tightening community activities.

He asked the local government to be able to provide appeals to the community, either in the form of circulars or other forms.

"Although there may not be Omicron in your area and maybe it's still Delta or Alfa, we all have to be careful," said Suhajar.

To prevent travel abroad, he said, currently the government has issued four circulars. First, the Circular of the Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri) on December 6, 2021 regarding the Appeal to Postpone Traveling Abroad.

Second, the Letter of the Minister of State Secretary (Mensesneg) in December 2021 regarding the Policy for the Implementation of Foreign Service Travel in Efforts to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19.

Third, the Circular Letter of the Minister of Administrative Reform and Bureaucratic Reform (MenPANRB) on January 13, 2022 concerning Restrictions on Traveling Abroad Activities for ASN Employees during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Fourth, the Minister of State Secretary's Circular on January 17, 2022 regarding the Policy for the Implementation of Foreign Service Travel in Efforts to Prevent the Transmission of COVID-19. Suhajar asked all regional heads to guide the circular letter.

"In the past, we have suspended the deputy regent for 3 months because of traveling without a permit, so please let us guide this together for our common good," said Suhajar.