Airlangga's Statement Is A Reflection Of The Government Prioritizing The Economy Over Health

Capture the screen of Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto. (Mery Handayani / VOI)

JAKARTA - The statement of the Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto regarding the drop in the Composite Stock Price Index (IHSG) due to the announcement of the imposition of large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) by DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has drawn criticism.

Member of Commission XI DPR Kamrussamad assessed that Airlangga's statement reflected the attitude of the central government which was too focused on the economic sector rather than health.

"The statement by the Coordinating Minister for the Economy reflects the government's mindset that sees the economy as more important than the health and safety of the people's souls," he said, in a written statement received by VOI, Thursday, September 10.

Kamrussamad assessed that this mindset has become the main problem in handling the COVID-19 pandemic so far in the country. From the start, the government was afraid to implement the PSBB because it considered the economic sector.

"This has been the main problem from the start, fearing that the lockdown will eventually be locked down by dozens of countries. Fear of extending the PSBB, eventually the virus creates its own farm in the transmission of each community of citizens," he said.

According to Kamrussamad, the fluctuating JCI during the COVID-19 pandemic was a common thing. In the current crisis condition, he said, it is better for all parties to refrain from blaming each other.

"The government itself has said that we are in an extraordinary situation. This means that at any time national economic turbulence can occur, especially capital markets such as the JCI," he said.

Furthermore, Kamrussamad assessed that the decision of DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan to re-enforce the PSBB in the capital was the right step. Because, according to him, DKI hospitals were full of COVID-19 patients.

"Because of the 34 new DKI Provinces that meet the standard for the number of citizen specimens set by WHO, 1 in 1,000, the result is that all hospitals are full of COVID-19 patients. What about other provinces?" He said.

Previously, Airlangga Hartarto said that the emergency brake, in this case the re-application of large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) announced by the Governor of DKI Jakarta Anies Baswedan, caused negative sentiment towards the capital market.

Airlangga assessed that Anies' decision influenced the movement of the Jakarta Composite Index (IHSG). In fact, according to him, previously the stock index's performance had started to move in a positive direction.

"Because today the index (IHSG) is still uncertain due to the announcement of the Governor of DKI last night. So that the index this morning was below Rp. 5,000," he said, during the National Chamber of Commerce meeting of Indonesia, in Jakarta, Thursday, September 10.

The JCI in trading on the Indonesian Stock Exchange (IDX) fell sharply. This morning, at 10:36 am IHSG fell sharply by 5 percent at the level of 4,892.87 or down 257.49 points.

Airlangga said Anies's decision to pull the emergency brake had a huge impact on the economy. This is because, he said, economic performance is not only influenced by fundamental conditions, but also public and public trust.

"However, we have to look at the gas and brakes. If the gas or brake is sudden, we certainly have to maintain public confidence. Because the economy is not only fundamental, but also sentiment, especially for the capital market sector," he said.