Mahfud Permits Police To Act Health Protocol Violators

Menkopolhukam Mahfud MD (doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD has allowed the police apparatus to take firm action against people who violate health protocols.

"We have found a formulation that does not need a government regulation in lieu of law (perppu), but uses the Criminal Code," Mahfud said when speaking at the National Webinar on "6 Months Evaluation and One Year Projection for Handling COVID-19 in Indonesia" virtually, Saturday night. .

He then emphasized, "The point is that now the police are given the task. I have given the task as Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs to order it. Anyone who opposes will be arrested," as quoted from Antara, Sunday, September 13.

However, he continued, the action against people who violated health protocols was not because they did not wear a mask, but against officers when told to use a mask.

"Well, we better look for it in these ways. This strict action is to suppress the spread of COVID-19," said Mahfud.

In the Health Law, said Mahfud, it also stipulates that if you harm others because of this disaster, there will be a penalty.

"Well, this is what will start to be done. I have started communicating to give shock therapy (which violates). Arrest people if they do anything. But of course the government will provide masks for the community," said Mahfud.

The former Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court added that the government deliberately did not issue a perppu in enforcing health protocols considering that the issuance of the perppu takes a relatively long time. "Moreover, if DPR members do not share the government's viewpoint," he said.

On the same occasion, Deputy Chief of Police, Komjen Pol. Gatot Eddy Pramono said that the National Police had taken steps so that the spread of COVID-19 could be suppressed, from educating the public to socializing the use of masks, maintaining distance, and washing hands. Currently, he continued, the National Police together with the local government will aggressively carry out justifiable operations using masks to suppress COVID-19.