Jokowi Asks Tito To Advise Regional Heads For Not Implementing Health Protocols

President Joko Widodo (Photo: Cabinet Secretariat of the Republic of Indonesia)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) ordered the Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri) Tito Karnavian to reprimand regional heads who did not comply with health protocols. Then, regional heads must also provide examples of proper implementation of health protocols, not join the crowd.

This was conveyed by Jokowi when chairing a limited meeting regarding the report of the Committee for Handling COVID-19 and National Economic Recovery at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Monday, November 16.

"I ask the Minister of Home Affairs to remind, if necessary, reprimand regional heads, both governors, regents and mayors, to be able to provide a good example to the community. Don't even join the crowd," Jokowi said as quoted from his written statement.

According to him, public safety is the highest law today. Moreover, currently the local government has decided to implement social restrictions in which there is a provision for crowd dispersal to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 in the community.

Regarding social restrictions, Jokowi also ordered the National Police Chief, the TNI Commander to the Chair of the COVID-19 Handling Task Force to take firm action if any party violates the established restrictions.

"So, don't just give it an appeal, but it must be followed by concrete supervision and enforcement in the field," he said.

Furthermore, the former governor of DKI Jakarta reminded regional governments that already have Regional Regulations (Perda) regarding the enforcement of health protocol disciplines to really carry out these rules strictly, consistently, and indiscriminately. This assertiveness is needed considering that based on the latest data as of November 15, the average active case of Covid-19 in Indonesia is already at 12.82 percent, which is much lower than the world's average of active cases which reached 27.85 percent.

In addition, the average cure for Covid-19 patients in Indonesia is also very good, reaching 83.92 percent, which is much better than the world recovery rate of 69.73 percent.

"These good figures should not be damaged because we lose our focus of control because we do not have the courage to take firm legal action in the field," he said.

Finally, Jokowi also reminded of the struggles and sacrifices that have been made by doctors, nurses, medical personnel and paramedics who have devoted their energy to caring for COVID-19 patients and cannot meet their families. "Do not let what doctors, nurses, medical personnel, paramedics have done be in vain because the government does not act decisively for activities that are contrary to existing health protocols and regulations," he said.

Previously, the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD emphasized that his party had warned DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan to remind the health protocol for COVID-19 prevention related to a number of Rizieq Shihab's activities starting from the Prophet's birthday to the marriage of the children of the Grand Imam Front. Defender of Islam (FPI) Rizieq Shihab, Najwa Shihab which was held on Saturday, November 14 last week.

This was conveyed by Mahfud in response to the large crowd at the event which was held in the Petamburan area, Central Jakarta.

"The government regrets the violation of health protocols at the implementation of the wedding ceremony and commemoration of the Prophet Muhammad's birthday in Petamburan, Central Jakarta, where the government actually warned the Governor of DKI Jakarta to ask organizers to comply with health protocols," Mahfud told reporters at a press conference held at his office. , Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat, Central Jakarta, Monday, November 16.

It is known that the marriage of the daughter of the High Priest of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) Rizieq Shihab, Najwa Shihab, which was held in a series of commemoration events for the Prophet's birthday which was held on Saturday night, November 14, is in the public spotlight. Apart from the fact that this event caused a crowd, recently the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government gave a warning until the sanction that had been paid by Rizieq was IDR 50 million.

After returning from Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, November 10, the FPI frontman has a number of agendas including the marriage of his son, Syarifah Najwa Shihab, to Muhammad Irfan Alaydrus. This wedding was held at Rizieq Shihab's residence, Jalan Petamburan, Central Jakarta and the spotlight arose because health protocols were not followed there.

Even though there are a number of people, without exception Rizieq Shihab wearing masks and face shields or faceshields, still the crowd generated in this event is of concern to other people. From VOI's monitoring through Front TV, during the event, there was no one meter minimum distance according to the health protocol to prevent COVID-19. Apart from that, the committee also did not provide a marker of which places could be occupied and which were not.

The situation on stage is not much different from the situation below the stage where the congregation sits. The habib and ulama sat close to each other without maintaining a distance and did not appear to be wearing masks even though the committee continued to ask that all present wear masks.