Nusantara Vaccine Polemic, Former KPK Commissioner: Support To BPOM Shows Concern For The Sane Citizens

Illustration (Unsplash)

JAKARTA - A number of cross-sectional figures provide support to the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) following the emergence of the Nusantara Vaccine polemic.

Former KPK Commissioner for the 2003-2007 period, Erry Riyana Hardjapamekas, who was one of the supporting figures, said that they were not asked by any party to provide support.

"This initiative comes naturally in our discussions within the WA (WhatsApp) Million Antigen Movement Group," Erry said during an online press conference, Saturday, April 17.

He emphasized that they also did not ask for permission from the BPOM, which recently had a polemic with members of the DPR RI, especially Commission IX because of the vaccine initiated by former Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto.

This support, continued Erry, was given because of their concern as citizens.

"It has nothing to do. We did not ask permission, nor were we asked by anyone. This is purely our concern as sane citizens," he said.

Adding Erry, member of Transparency International Indonesia (TII) Natalia Soebagjo said this support was given because the safety of millions of Indonesians was at stake in this polemic. "Let us remember that the life and death of millions of people is at stake," he said.

Previously reported, hundreds of cross-figures provide support to the agency that regulates the distribution of drugs and food in this country. Through online press conferences, this movement provides support to BPOM by reading open letters.

The following is an open letter read:

Open Statement

"BPOM Team, Keep On Going!"

Any vaccine research needs to be decided by an authorized institution. needs to be decided by the competent state agency. We have the Food and Drug Administration of the Republic of Indonesia (BPOM RI). We, whose names are listed below, adhere to the establishment of BPOM, which is an official body in Indonesia and operates according to procedures, discipline and scientific integrity.

Let BPOM work calmly with its team of experts. We believe in their scientific integrity and independence. So far, BPOM has served to maintain public health in the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia.

Those who work at BPOM have proven themselves to be patriots without much rhetoric, standing up to pressure from anywhere.

We, citizens of the Republic, stand with them.

We appreciate every research and development of vaccines and medicines as an endeavor to open up new possibilities against the pandemic. Of course, by still heeding scientific principles.

Let us remember that the life and death of millions of people is at stake.

Jakarta, 17 April 2021

We, citizens of the Republic

The figures who supported this event were Kia Haji Ahmad Mustofa Bisri; Commissioner for the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for the period 2003-2007, Erry Riyana Hardjapamekas; Epidemiologist from the University of Indonesia (UI), Pandu Riono; UI Professor of Microbiology, Pratiwi Sudarmono; former Minister of Mining and Energy, Kuntoro Mangkusubroto; former RSCM Director, Akmal Taher; Muslim scholar, Azyumardi Azra; and Professor of Cardiology and Vascular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia, Idris Idham.

In addition there are also Herbal Medicine Experts from the Faculty of Medicine UI, Purwantyastuti; Professor of the Faculty of Economics, UI (FEUI), Mayling Oey; and UI Chancellor for the 2014–2019 period, Muhammad Anis.