Rizieq Makes Crowds In The Middle Of A Pandemic, DPR Members: If It's Too Bad For The People, Stop It

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

JAKARTA - Member of Commission IX of the DPR, Rahmad Handoyo, regretted that the activities of the High Priest of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) Rizieq Shihab often caused crowds that could have an impact on the increasing number of COVID-19 cases.

"This atmosphere and the pandemic era is very dangerous and we are still far from being able to control COVID-19," said Rahmad in Jakarta, quoted by Antara, Friday, November 13.

Therefore, Rahmad asked Rizieq Shihab to refrain from holding an activity that invited many people. Because it has the potential to cause crowds and is very dangerous in this pandemic.

"Underestimating the Corona pandemic by holding this kind of activity is very dangerous for the people. If you love the people, if you want to make people safe from COVID-19, stop any activities that invite or have an impact on gathering crowds of people," he said.

The politician from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) emphasized that if Rizieq Shihab's activities continued to invite large crowds, the impact would be to increase the number of positive cases of COVID-19 in the country. Even though the government is trying to reduce the transmission rate.

"If this activity continues, it will certainly threaten the lives of the people to become a source of new clusters. There is no other way but to stop all events," he stressed.

Epidemiology expert from the University of Indonesia (UI) Pandu Riono also complained about Rizieq Shihab's events which made a large crowd.

"It's very worrying. And I'm surprised that no one reminded me," he said.

According to Pandu after returning from Saudi Arabia, Rizieq Shihab should be self-quarantined for 14 days. After that, they can do activities.

"Because he just returned home, he should have been reminded. From the start, he should have believed he was negative and was quarantined for a few days and then carried out activities," he said.

Pandu said Rizieq should also be able to advise his supporters not to crowd and apply health protocols. "This is even ignored," said Pandu.

Today, Rizieq attended the Prophet Muhammad's birthday in Tebet, South Jakarta. After that, he lectured at Megamendung, Bogor. The crowd welcomed Rizieq's arrival at the Gadog intersection.

Previously when he arrived in Indonesia, thousands of people welcomed Rizieq from Saudi Arabia. The crowd gathered at Soekarno Airport and at Rizieq's residence.