Call For Entrepreneurs To Help The Government Overcome COVID-19

Former Minister of Trade, Enggartiasto Lukita. (Photo: Twitter @EnggarLkt)

JAKARTA - Not a single country is ready for the COVID-19 pandemic. The superpower was shaken. Therefore, it would be wrong to rely only on the government. On the other hand, all the shortcomings that occur must be overcome together with all elements of the nation.

This is why Enggartiasto Lukita, former Minister of Trade of the Republic of Indonesia, mobilized a number of businessmen to help cope with this pandemic.

Previously, when he was the Minister of Trade, Enggartiasto gathered businessmen to maintain the stability of prices for staple goods during Ramadan and Eid, in this Ramadan, he gathered businessmen to raise donations to regions and various hospitals in the country.

"Not a single country is ready. Even with the caliber of the United States, it is not ready. So we cannot blame the government. Which government is ready? If we simply state that it is the government's job. That is not fair," Enggartiasto said together. Alek Sumadi Seng and Then Herry Yulianto from the Sahati Foundation, while dispatching donations of PPE, masks and others in Jakarta, Monday 27 April.

Enggartiasto called on businessmen and anyone who is well off in this country to help each other. This nation needs all its elements to help each other. He also stated that what Chandra Asri, PT Indonesia SEIA, and also Pakuwon Group, through Pakuwon care, will do to support other concerned parties to help the government resolve this outbreak.

At the same time, he also expressed his gratitude to BNPB and Customs for handling the import of PPE and others as a deft, not bureaucratic action. The minister, who is also a businessman, said that he went straight to check the whereabouts and needs of PPE and others through various networks in the country. The management of his walking around, admittedly inspired by what President Jokowi does daily, goes directly to the field.

"This is the time for us to act. An epidemic like this has never happened. Our brothers and sisters are lying, can we be silent? Not right. We have to intervene, everyone," he exclaimed.

This contribution to handling COVID-19 is the fifth time that Enggartiasto, Sumadi Seng, and Then Herry departed. What Enggar managed to raise included 1.3 million surgical masks, 300,000 KN-95 masks, 40,000 face shields, 60,000 medical safety suits (personal protective equipment / PPE), and 100,000 sets of medical gloves. In addition, Enggar and the Sahati foundation have also prepared 175 thousand units of rapid test equipment and 30 ventilators to come.

Enggar stated that his party will prioritize buying domestically produced medical devices as long as they meet standards.

Enggartiasto Lukita was previously the Minister of Trade in the Working Cabinet of President Joko Widodo volume I. In the 2016-2019 period, he was considered capable of controlling prices for staples, especially nearing the holidays of Ramadan and Eid. He is also considered successful in establishing dialogues with entrepreneurs in various sectors to stabilize prices.

One of Enggar's breakthroughs is implementing a Ramadan cheap market where goods originate from the business world and the proceeds from sales are donated back to Islamic boarding schools, orphanages, or other social institutions.

In Jakarta, the equipment was distributed to Friendship Hospital, Fatmawati Hospital, Kebayoran Lama Community Health Center, Kebayoran Baru Community Health Center, Agung Hospital in Manggarai, DKI Jakarta Environmental Service, and Pasar Minggu Hospital.

In Surabaya, the hospitals receiving the assistance are Brawijaya Hospital, Airlangga University Hospital, St. Catholic Hospital. Vincentius A Paulo, RSAL Drg. M. Nainggolan, and Gotong Royong Hospital.

Apart from these two cities, aid will also be distributed to Solo, Yogyakarta, Cirebon and Banyuwangi. "I also appeal to all citizens to do whatever we can to help overcome this COVID-19 pandemic. May God protect Indonesia," said Enggar.