JAKARTA - Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto emphasized that the key to President Joko Widodo's success (Jokowi) in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic crisis is calm. Although, it is undeniable that a lot of pressure and laziness have arisen due to the spread of the virus.
"We must also admit, we must give appreciation to our president, Mr. Joko Widodo. He has led the crisis calmly, coolly, thinking about the people at the bottom. I am a witness in the Cabinet. I am a witness," he said while giving a speech at the peak of the 45th anniversary of the Indonesian Mosque Youth Communication Agency (BKPRMI) at the Istiqlal Mosque, Jakarta, on Saturday, October 29.
In addition, Jokowi is also not easily intervened when making decisions. Especially, when asked to implement a regional quarantine (lockdown).
In fact, one of the reasons the Head of State refused to take the policy was because he considered and thought about the fate of the little people.
"All countries, WHO (World Health Organization) continue to pressure our government, lockdown, lockdown. Many countries have participated in massive lockdowns. They survive," he said. "I remember he once asked, 'Menhan, if we all lock down, what people do we eat?" he said.
"Our ojol people, right, live day by day. The satay maker, meatball maker, the seller who sells street vendors, lives day by day. Our workers earn daily. If they lock down, what does they eat? He (Jokowi) survives. Alhamdulillah, we are recognized by the five best countries, we are among the best countries in handling Covid from 200 countries," added Prabowo.
In fact, Prabowo said all over the world, including Indonesia, experienced a tremendous panic at the beginning of the outbreak of COVID-19. Moreover, at that time there were no vaccines and medicines to cure patients while preventing transmission.
"At the beginning, in the first month, something could be said to be panic or enormous concern because at the beginning it was dangerous. We didn't have a strong vaccine at that time, we don't know which medicine is suitable for that, so many of our brothers and sisters, our friends, are not with us anymore," he said.
Therefore, Prabowo also invited the public to appreciate President Jokowi's performance in controlling the pandemic. Because, overcoming the problem is not an easy matter.
"Let us as a nation, as Muslims, dare to respect people who are right, respect goodness, appreciate any achievements," said Prabowo.
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