Anies And The Deputy Governor Have Different Point Of Views Regarding The Enforcement Of Penalties Against The People Who Reject The COVID-19 Vaccine

DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan and DKI Deputy Governor Ahmad Riza Patria (DOK. Public Relations of DKI Pemprov)

JAKARTA - DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan does not want to worry about the residents who are refusing the COVID-19 vaccination when the central government regulates strict penalties. For Anies, the COVID-19 vaccination is just an offer.

However, a different point of view was shown by the Deputy Governor of DKI, Ahmad Riza Patria. Riza said, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) issued Presidential Decree No. 14 of 2021. In Article 13A paragraph (4), people who have been designated as vaccine recipients but did not participate in vaccination will have their social assistance suspended.

Plus, DKI Jakarta has Regional Regulation Number 2 of 2020 regarding the response to COVID-19. Article 30 states that every person who deliberately refuses to receive treatment and/or vaccination for COVID-19 will be punished with a maximum fine of IDR 5.000.000.

"We are living under the law, the regional regulation regarding the control of COVID-19 has regulated anyone who refuses to be vaccinated, as long as they are registered, of course, they will receive a fine of IDR 5 million. On the other hand, the President pays attention to those who refuse vaccines, the support of their social assistance from the central government will be removed", Riza told reporters, Wednesday, February 17.

According to Riza, the penalties for rejecting the COVID-19 vaccine are important because the coronavirus is different from other diseases such as smallpox, polio, or measles which only affect oneself.

"The COVID-19 vaccine is different. If I refuse to be vaccinated, it will not only affect me but also my wife, children, family, parents, surrounding communities, even people who are far away because we interact", said Riza.

"So, if this is mandatory. You can't mess with it because it saves everyone in the world", added Riza.

As previously reported, DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan said that the COVID-19 vaccination was merely a government offering to protect the public from the coronavirus.

"This vaccine is just the beginning. So, at this time we are offering it. If it is offered, it is up to you whether you take it or not. So, we are in the inviting phase in the hope that this can help prevent exposure in places where there is a lot of interaction", said Anies.