Ma'ruf Amin Should Be More Careful Comment On COVID-19

Representative of the Republic of Indonesia, Ma'ruf Amin. (Twitter @Kiyai_MarufAmin)

JAKARTA - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin issued a statement regarding the government will issue a certification free of the COVID-19 virus. According to Ma'ruf, this needs to be done as a form of surveillance against the virus that spread from Wuhan City, China after the infection of two citizens in Indonesia. However, this statement turned out to be disinformation and it seems that Ma'ruf no longer needs to comment on the virus.

This is because the Chief of Presidential Staff (KSP) Moeldoko explained that the government will not carry out certification for the community but will ask for certificates from newcomers who will enter Indonesia. Especially from citizens whose countries have cases of the spread of COVID-19, such as South Korea, Japan, Iran and Italy.

It's just that when asked further about the certificate, this former TNI commander refused to answer further. Because he did not know the details of the certificate.

"I don't understand for sure. But there is a statement from the health authorities that the person concerned is not in a state of illness, for a period of several days," said Moeldoko at the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, Wednesday, March 4, adding that apart from the COVID-19 free certificate, the government will check the travel history of those who will enter Indonesia.

Not only disinformation, in fact Ma'ruf's statement also made residents panic and flocked to call hotlines for handling the COVID-19 virus. This was conveyed by Associate Expert KSP Erlinda. According to him, after the statement from the inactive Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) Chairperson was quoted by the media, many people called the hotline to ask for a COVID-19 free letter certificate.

"Well, this is what we have to straighten out. Yes, this is what we have to straighten out that the state does not issue it," said Erlinda.

Reflecting on the disinformation that has caused unrest in the community, Executive Director of Indonesia Political Review, Ujang Komarudin said that Ma'ruf actually no longer needs to comment on anything considering that currently there is a spokesperson for handling COVID-19 who is held by the Secretary of the Directorate General of Disease Prevention and Control (P2P ) Ministry of Health, Achmad Yurianto.

"The spokesperson for Corona has been established by Jokowi. So the information or comments from the government should be one door. Neither the vice president nor other officials need to comment that disturbs the public," said Ujang when contacted by VOI via text message, Saturday, March 7.

Ujang considered that if Ma'ruf had a view regarding the virus, it would be better if it was conveyed only one door through a spokesman. The goal is so that slippage of the tongue or wrong speech does not occur and the information conveyed is not confusing and makes the public panic.

In addition, Ujang assessed that the former PBNU Rais Aam must remember that he is currently the vice president for the 2019-2024 period and not a cleric anymore. So, whatever he says must be in the right context and in accordance with the data and facts in the field.

"Currently, Pak Ma'ruf Amin is the vice president. Of course, the style of communication must be different from when he was the general chairman of the MUI," he said.

Certification is useless

Regarding the COVID-19 virus-free certification, the spokesperson for this matter, Achmad Yurianto also emphasized that it is actually useless. This, said Yuri, needs to be conveyed considering that many companies currently request a lot of COVID-19 virus-free letters from their employees after trips abroad.

"In our opinion there is no need (asking for a COVID-19 free certificate) and our coordination is useless. A corona-free certificate is useless," said Yuri at a press conference at the Presidential Staff Office, Jakarta.

He also admitted to having received reports from a number of hospitals, about the number of people who asked for the certification. So, Yuri emphasized, this virus is not actually a matter of spreading from person to person, but controlling its spread in the community.

Moreover, this virus is now lighter after entering the second phase. Because it is so light, people with it often don't feel that they are currently sick. "Or they feel mild pain is not a picture of a serious illness," he said.

"This is our big challenge for society, so that the biggest strength is how we build together education so that people can control themselves not to become sick, not to panic, not to take irrational actions."