Jokowi 'Invites' The Crowd In NTT, Who's Wrong?

President Joko Widodo during a visit to NTT (Photo: Twitter @setkabgoid)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo is back in the public spotlight after a viral video showing a crowd of residents on a working visit to East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Tuesday, February 23.

The Jokowi crowd reaped the pros and cons because it occurred in the midst of the corona virus (COVID-19) pandemic which should have implemented health protocols, one of which was maintaining distance.

President @jokowi's visit in Maumere (Flores) today without a health program ?! 😷🥱 pic.twitter.com/2J2A63ECBU

- RumahAksara ™ (@didienAZHAR) February 23, 2021

NasDem Party politician Taufik Basari said the palace must clarify the chronology of the crowd when President Jokowi went to Maumere, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).

According to him, this is to straighten out the alleged violation of the COVID-19 health protocol by the president which should be an example of implementing 5M in society.

"In my opinion, it would be nice for the palace to explain to the public about the chronology of the activity. For example, why did so many people gather, why did the president and his car eventually stop running. If the explanation is clear, the public can accept and understand it, I think it will be finished", Taufik told VOI, Wednesday, February 24.

The palace, through the Deputy for Protocol, Press, and Media of the Presidential Secretariat, Bey Machmudin, explained the chronology of the events that occurred in the 30-second video.

According to him, when Jokowi arrived, the community was lined up along the road from Frans Seda Maumere Airport to the Napun Gete Dam, Sikka Regency to welcome the president.

"While on the way, the community was waiting for a series on the side of the road, when the series slowed down, people advanced to the middle of the road, causing the motorcade to stop", Bey told reporters, Tuesday, February 23.

Bey explained that President Jokowi did not just greet the crowd when he appeared on the roof of the car. But it also seeks to remind crowds to stick to health protocols.

"Incidentally, the car used by the President can be opened, so the President can greet the public, and at the same time reminds him of wearing masks", he said.

Meanwhile, Wiku Adisasmito, spokesperson for the COVID-19 Task Force, was reluctant to comment further on the case of crowds caused by President Jokowi. He only reminded the public to always implement the 5M health protocol.

Wiku also asked the COVID-19 post at the village and sub-district level to be more anticipatory about events like this.

"The point is for the public to keep in mind that during this pandemic, they must always minimize the risk of transmission", Wiku said when asked for information, Wednesday (24/2).

Then who should be responsible if the case of this crowd of residents is subject to sanctions for violating the prokes?.

Political observer Karyono Wibowo thinks that President Joko Widodo cannot be blamed in this context. Because if it is processed further, the responsible party is the organizer.

"The problem must be seen. If it is investigated, who will be the organizers? The president is the only present", Karyono told VOI, Wednesday night, February 24.

Volunteer Care for COVID-19 Prevention Tirta Mandira Hudhi or more familiarly called Dokter Tirta also considered crowd sanctions to be irrelevant when applied to cases of crowds of residents.

"So returning to the implementation of crowd sanctions, in my opinion, is irrelevant to be enforced", said Tirta through a video uploaded from the Instagram account @dr.tirta, Wednesday, February 24.