Ribka Tjiptaning, Who Refuses COVID-19 Vaccination, Is Now Managing Oil And Electricity

Member of Commission IX DPR from the PDIP faction Ribka Tjiptaning stated that he refused the COVID-19 vaccination in the RDP at the DPR with the Minister of Health, January 12 (Capture the DPR RI YouTube screen)

JAKARTA - Member of the DPR RI from the PDI-P Faction, Ribka Tjiptaning, was transferred from Commission IX, which deals with health and social issues, to Commission VII in the field of research energy and technology, and the environment. This move occurred after Ribka made a firm comment about refusing the COVID-19 vaccination.

Through the PDIP DPR Faction Letter Number 04 / F-PDIP / DPR-RI / I / 2021 dated January 18, the PDIP Faction moved to a number of its members and one of them was Ribka Tjiptaning. Based on the letter, Ribka received a new assignment at Commission VII, which is against his background as a doctor.

Apart from Ribka, there were other names that were also shifted from the new commission, namely Johan Budi Sapto Pribowo from Commission II to Commission III, Marinus Gea from Commission III to Commission XI, and Ihsan Yunus from Deputy Chair of Commission VIII to become a member of Commission II.

PDIP firmly admits that Rebekah's move was not due to her statement some time ago which rejected the COVID-19 vaccination. According to the Secretary of the PDIP Faction, Bambang Wuryanto, this transfer was just an ordinary rotation with certain reasons.

"This is an ordinary rotation. But every political decision has an argument, of course, the argument is supported by facts," Bambang told reporters, Tuesday, January 19.

However, even though he said this transfer was a normal thing, he still asked that the faction members who had been transferred to inspect themselves.

"All parties affected by rotation are welcome to retrospect and introspect," he said.

Laughter when receiving letters

Even though he was transferred from the commission he had occupied for the past 17 years, Ribka admitted that he had no problem with this decision. Even so, he admitted that he had laughed after receiving a letter stating that he was transferred to Commission VII.

"(Rotated, red) just smile while laughing. It's funny, the doctor who manages oil and electricity," said Ribka to reporters.

"I used to take care of the sick and the hospital, now I have to learn to climb stairs but the lights go out," he added.

When asked about the reason for this transfer, Rebekah was reluctant to answer further. He said that it was not him who had the authority to explain the transfer, but rather the faction leadership.

What is clear, he said, was that he had received this letter since Monday, January 18 and as of Tuesday, January 19, he had worked for Commission VII of the DPR RI.

"I don't know. Suddenly yesterday afternoon there was a letter at the office being transferred today," he said.

The PDIP faction may say that this transfer is not related to the statement made by Ribka during a working meeting between Commission IX DP and Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Head of BPOM and Managing Director of Bio Farma, Tuesday, January 12.

At that time, Rebekah refused to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and said that she preferred to pay a fine. He refused vaccination because he considered that the phase three clinical trial of the COVID-19 vaccine to be used had not yet been completed. Plus, there have been many bad experiences about vaccines, including stories about children who have just been vaccinated for polio even experiencing weakness.

Executive Director of Indonesia Political Review (IPR), Ujang Komarudin, assessed that the transfer of this commission was clearly a punishment or sanction because as a member of a party supporting the government, Ribka actually issued a statement that was counterproductive to government policy.

"What Rebekah said, who refused the vaccine, even reached her grandchildren and was ready to be fined, was a form of indiscipline action. That's why she was then moved and transferred to another commission," said Ujang when contacted by VOI.

Not only is it considered counterproductive to the government's attitude, Ribka's statement is also considered to have slapped his own party. "PDIP is the main party supporting the president and president from the PDIP but its members refuse to be vaccinated," he said.

"So this is funny, strange, and magical. At the same time amused," he added.

"If you don't want to follow, you will certainly be kicked out or shifted. That is the case. That is a consequence of having to be prepared to be shifted if you do not agree with the party's policies and the policies of the president that are supported," he concluded.