Waiting For The SOE Minister's Step On Alleged Medical Device Mafia

Illustration (Angga Nugraha / VOI)

JAKARTA - After Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Erick Thohir suspected that there was a mafia that caused Indonesia to depend on imported goods for the provision of medical devices and medicines during the COVID-19 pandemic, now, the public is waiting for further steps from the minister.

Economic researcher from the Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (Indef) Abra Tallatov even said that after disclosing this allegation, Erick Thohir should report to legal officials such as the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

Because, don't let this kind of serious suspicion just heat up at the beginning and then evaporate at the end. It is just like other cases, namely the alleged misappropriation of position and smuggling within the state-owned company, PT Garuda Indonesia.

"Yes (it must be brought to other law enforcers such as the KPK). The problem we have been criticizing with Pak Erick from the beginning until now is more games. From the Garuda case, from the beginning, many things were dismantled but on the way it just evaporated. , "Abra told VOI when contacted by telephone, Monday, April 20.

It is known, PT Garuda Indonesia some time ago had indeed tripped over a scandal. I Gusti Ngurah Askhara Danadiputra alias Ari Askhara was fired because he was caught smuggling a large Harley Davidson motorcycle and Brompton folding bike. PT Garuda is a state-owned company under the Ministry of BUMN.

Even though it was busy, but now the continuation of the case is not being heard again. In fact, recently this case has shifted from a smuggling case to an issue of defamation. This happened after a flight attendant for the airline Garuda Indonesia reported an anonymous account because he considered himself to be the deposit of a high-ranking company official.

Reflecting on the incident, Abra is in fact worried that the accusation of the medical and pharmaceutical mafia is a new gimmick in the style of Erick Thohir which only shows problems but has no solution.

So, to ward off the opinion that the Minister of BUMN was only throwing games through the accusation of the mafia, Erick should have directly proven his accusation. Because, it is not impossible, what he will convey will eventually lead to negative sentiments from the entrepreneurs.

"If they (entrepreneurs) have legal imports, the permits are legal, what is strange for them is that these investors will even ask why they have done the licenses. There are even accusations that they will create negative sentiment towards investors, how come the government is actually indulging in public, "he explained.

Instead of making accusations, there are actually several ways if Erick wants the medical equipment and pharmaceutical industries in Indonesia not to depend on the public. One way is to do research and development.

This is because fighting the dependence on imports can be done by having independence from within as evidenced by the budget allocation for research in the health and pharmaceutical fields.

"For example, the research budget, especially health research, is not significant, yes it shows that this term is just lip service saying we are being disturbed in the pharmaceutical sector," said Abra.

Apart from research and development, another way to escape dependence on imports is by optimizing state-owned companies engaged in health and pharmaceuticals.

Even if there are obstacles, Erick as Minister of BUMN, should reveal what are the obstacles that make the pharmaceutical and medical device industry in Indonesia depend on imported materials by up to 90 percent and not even accuse that there is an import mafia in the industry.

"In my opinion, we cannot blame the mafias if the SOEs themselves are not transparent about what problems they face," said Abra.

"Whether in terms of technology, knowledge, or other constraints, for example, is not competitive. For example, domestic production is not competitive in price with foreign drugs, well, that must also be disclosed," he added.

With regards to the insistence on the Ministry of BUMN to report to law enforcers such as the KPK, it seems that this institution has not really thought about that. Because, Acting KPK spokesman for the field of prosecution Ali Fikri said that until now there had been no reports regarding the procurement of goods and services for medical devices related to the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"So far, after we checked with the public complaints department, there have been no reports," Ali told reporters when confirmed.

Even though there has been no report yet, Ali said, the KPK will remain committed to overseeing the implementation of the budget and procurement of goods and services related to the handling of COVID-19 in Indonesia.

"In addition, the KPK will be firm with any party involved in the procurement of goods and services, especially the need for medical devices, especially for the current situation in handling the corona virus," he said.

If later the public or other elements find out about any information about suspected corruption, this anti-graft agency asks them not to hesitate to report. "The Corruption Eradication Commission will certainly conduct a study and deepen every report from the public that comes in," he said.

Previously, State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Minister Erick Thohir said there was a mafia that deliberately made Indonesia import raw materials for medical devices and medicines in Indonesia.

Erick said that the medical equipment and medicine mafia could take advantage of the condition of the country which is currently fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. So, this kind of mafia should be fought so that there are no dirty practices that make it difficult for the state in times like now.

"If we don't work together, do other nations really care? Not everyone, the ends of the money continue and we get caught in a short term policy dominated by the mafia. We have to fight that," said Erick in a live broadcast on his account @erickthohir.

He then said that currently there are 90 percent of medical devices and medicinal raw materials imported from abroad. Thus, it is very possible that the medical equipment and drugs mafia interfered in these import activities.

"We are sorry if offending some parties, don't we always get caught up in dirty practices," he said.