Jokowi's Order To The Minister Of Home Affairs: Reprimand Regional Heads For Covering Territories

President Joko Widodo (Photo: setkab.go.id)

JAKARTA - The coronavirus pandemic or COVID-19 is close to the month of Ramadan. The government has prepared a number of policies to deal with this.

President Joko Widodo requested that all of the people's basic needs be met during the face of this pandemic during Ramadan. He ordered the Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri) Tito Karnavian to reprimand regional heads who closed access to their territory on the pretext of cutting off the spread of COVID-19.

Because, by closing the road access, it will create disruption to regional logistics from the center to the regions.

"I hope the Minister of Home Affairs will give a warning to regions that block their roads so that logistics distribution affairs are not disturbed. Because yesterday I received reports from two regions, rice affairs were somewhat disturbed because the road was closed," Jokowi said before starting a limited meeting with his ministers to discuss preparations month of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr, Thursday, April 2.

[Live Delay] Limited Meeting #Ratas via #VideoConference regarding Preparations for Facing Ramadan and Eid 1441 H / 2020 M, Thursday (2/4) https://t.co/aIfJdXAbFn pic.twitter.com/H53Fb6hqRW

- Cabinet Secretariat (@setkabgoid) April 2, 2020

Jokowi also asked his staff to continue to ensure the availability of basic commodities. So far, he said, stocks of rice, meat, eggs, sugar, flour and other staples are safe. The price of sugar, which had soared, is certain that Jokowi will fall in the near future.

"The Minister of Agriculture said that in the next weeks the price will go down to normal conditions again, Rp12,500," he said.

In addition, Jokowi continued, the price of garlic was also normal. "The Trade Minister told me garlic, next week or thankfully this week the price has returned to normal, Rp20 thousand to Rp30 thousand," he concluded.