Doni Monardo: As A Community Leader, Rizieq Should Be Cooperative And Set An Example

Chairman of the Task Force for Handling COVID-19 who is also Chairman of the BNPB Doni Monardo (Photo: BNPB Public Relations)

JAKARTA - Chairperson of the Task Force for Handling COVID-19 Doni Monardo regrets the uncooperative attitude of the High Priest of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) Rizieq Shihab to carry out an examination or swab test to carry out contact tracing for COVID-19.

According to Doni, Rizieq as a community leader should be able to set an example by being cooperative in efforts to prevent transmission of the virus.

This was conveyed by him after receiving reports from the Mayor of Bogor, Bima Arya and the Main Director of the Bogor UMMI Hospital, Andi Tatat, which is where Rizieq received health care.

"The COVID-19 Handling Task Force deeply regrets the attitude of brother Rizieq Shihab who refused to carry out a contact tracing considering he had close contact with a COVID-19 patient. We ask Rizieq as a community leader to cooperate and set an example in efforts to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic," said Doni in his written statement to reporters, Sunday, November 29.

The head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) said the government would not hesitate to take action against anyone without exception violators of health protocols that are dangerous to public safety and health.

He said, 3T or testing, tracing, and treatment are steps to control the spread of COVID-19. So, anyone has to cooperate to do this. "The Task Force asks, once again, to the wider community whoever it is to be cooperative," he said.

"So that efforts to deal with COVID-19 can successfully suppress cases. Empathy and support must be given to health workers and volunteers who are struggling to carry out health management," he added.

Previously, information about Rizieq Shihab being sick and being treated at the UMMI Hospital, Bogor, West Java was confirmed by the Mayor of Bogor, Bima Arya, who had contacted the hospital.

According to the management of the UMMI Hospital, Bogor, Rizieq was treated since Wednesday, November 25 and was treated for fatigue. However, the overall condition of the FPI frontman is in good condition and will continue to be subjected to further examinations by doctors.

Bima said that Rizieq had not yet carried out a swab test to detect COVID-19 in his body because he felt asymptomatic even though he also asked not to visit because he wanted to rest to the maximum.

"According to the hospital, he asked not to be visited because he wanted to rest," Bima said when contacted by VOI, Thursday, November 26.

Although Rizieq felt asymptomatic and did not feel the need to do a swab test, Bima still asked him to do it. This must be done to protect the health workers who treat themselves in the hospital.

Moreover, recently, people who met Rizieq Shihab have tested positive for COVID-19. "I have requested that Habib Rizieq be swab immediately. Even though he has no symptoms, he has interactions with many people," he said.

Later, Arya revealed that Rizieq refused to undergo a swab test to detect whether he was exposed to COVID-19 or not.

"I received a report from the Health Service Team who came to the UMMI Hospital this afternoon to discuss the swab test with Habib Rizieq," he said as quoted by Antara, Friday, November 27.

Furthermore, it was rumored that Rizieq had fled from the Bogor UMMI Hospital on Saturday, November 28 evening. Reporting from Antara, West Java Police Public Relations Head Commissioner Erdi A Chaniago confirmed that Rizieq had indeed left the house and left the UMMI Hospital at around 21.00 WIB on Saturday, November 28.

"This is being investigated by the Bogor Police. The information is like that, that the patient at Ummi Hospital (Rizieq Shihab, red) at 21.00 WIB, Saturday night, November 28, was out," Chaniago told reporters, Sunday, November 29.

He said it was suspected that Rizieq had walked out of the back door of the hospital. Rizieq's departure, which was allegedly carried out in secret, was also unknown to the COVID-19 Handling Task Force.

Some of the information gathered also states the same thing. Based on the admission of a hospital security officer, Rizieq exited through the back door of the hospital which was a medicine warehouse. However, it is not certain that the vehicle carrying the FPI frontman.

After finding out about the departure, the security then checked the room where Rizieq was being treated and it was true that he had left the UMMI Hospital.

However, this news was later denied by FPI lawyer Azis Yanuar. According to him, Rizieq came home because he was already healthy.

"Habib Rizieq Shihab (currently, red) has returned home," said Azis when confirmed by VOI regarding the news of Rizieq's escape, Sunday, November 29.

He considered that the phrase 'blurred' was conveyed by parties who have hatred for Rizieq. He said Rizieq was in good health and had been allowed to return to his house in the Petamburan area. "That information and news comes from people and parties who have mental illness due to deep hatred towards Habib Rizieq Shihab," he said.

He added that Rizieq did not experience illness, even though some reports said he was sick and had to be treated at the UMMI Hospital, Bogor, West Java. Rizieq, he continued, was in the hospital just to rest.

"Alhamdulillah, (Rizieq's condition, red) from the beginning of this polemic is in good health. Just resting," he said.