Rizieq Shihab Did Not Quarantine Upon Arrival From Arabia, Ministry Of Health Admitted That Couldn't Do Much

Rizieq Shihab during a speech at his residence (Photo: Irfan Meidianto)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) emphasizes that anyone who has just returned from abroad must quarantine for 14 days. Including the Grand Imam of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) Rizieq Shihab who recently arrived from Saudi Arabia.

"Yes (anyone, red) must be at home first because they are still in quarantine for 14 days," said Acting Director General of Disease Prevention and Control (P2P) of the Ministry of Health, Budi Hidayat, when contacted by VOI, Wednesday, November 11.

According to Budi, karanti was carried out to reduce the number of COVID-19. However, his party could not do much if Rizieq did not carry out quarantine upon arrival in the country. Because there are no sanctions given for those who do not implement it. "If there is no action, we will only appeal," he said.

Moreover, if he did not heed the appeal, Budi assessed that the public should have understood what was going to happen. Including, the possibility of being exposed to COVID-19 in the midst of a pandemic like now.

"People already know the consequences, right, if he is sick what to do and how to prevent it," he said.

Previously, Rizieq's lawyer, Sugito, said that Rizieq did not carry out independent isolation upon arrival in the country. Sugito said, Rizieq had undergone a swab test for COVID-19 detection before departing from Saudi Arabia. However, Sugito did not mention Rizieq's swab test results.

"He (Rizieq) has swab. So, there is probably no problem. But, don't let the public put Habib Rizieq in disobedience to health protocol issues," said Sugito.

Sugito asked the public not to discriminate against Rizieq about having to undergo 14 days of self-quarantine as a traveler. Because, Sugito views that many people who returned from abroad did not undergo independent isolation.

"The provisions (swab tests) must be obeyed but also not discriminated against. There are also many people who freely leave the country without swab, only PCR and can carry out activities. Do high officials in Indonesia also have to isolate independently?" said Sugito.

It is known, after returning from Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, November 10, Rizieq has four major agendas that will be undertaken in the near future. After resting at his residence for three days, Rizieq will attend the commemoration of the Prophet Muhammad's birthday at Habib Ali bin Abdurrahman Assegaf's residence in the Tebet area on Friday, November 13.

Furthermore, Rizieq went straight to the Islamic Markaz Islamic Boarding School in Mega Mendung, Bogor, West Java to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the cottage.

Then, on Saturday, November 14, plans to hold the Prophet Muhammad's birthday at the FPI Headquarters, Petamburan, Central Jakarta. At the same time, Rizieq will also marry off his daughter, namely Syarifah Najwa Shihab.

In addition, Rizieq also held a number of meetings with officials, one of which was DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan.