Admits Handling Rules Change Often, Mahfud MD: The COVID-19 Pandemic Can't Be Predicted

DOK VOI/Coordinating Minister of Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, Mahfud MD, acknowledged that the rules for handling the COVID-19 pandemic often change. This change occurred because the government followed the pandemic situation in the country.

"Indeed (rules, ed) often change because the COVID-19 is also changing. It can't be predicted", said Mahfud Mahfud when giving a speech at a virtual BPK event, Tuesday, June 29.

He said all parties must accept this fact. Because this is an unavoidable fact since the COVID-19 pandemic entered Indonesia.

Mahfud revealed the problem of handling the current pandemic. In the midst of the pandemic, according to him, the government is not only struggling with budget management issues but also other issues such as differences of opinion.

Mahfud gave an example of a difference of opinion between doctors regarding the policies that the government must take in the midst of soaring COVID-19 cases. According to him, some doctors appeal to the government to do lockdown, but some doctors advise not to do it.

"For example, if today's news is a doctor from IDI (Indonesian Doctors Association) says that this country wants to be safe, don't be late, immediately lock down. But there is another doctor named Doctor Fadilah (saying, ed) don't lockdown", said Mahfud

"Doctors are different, what fits in Indonesia is not a lockdown. This is also a problem for the government", he added.

Not only in doctors' circles, but this difference also occurs in religious circles. According to Mahfud, some religious experts follow the Jabariyah understanding which believes in human efforts when they want to heal.

But some religious experts choose the Qodariyah understanding, which is to believe that any effort made if it is destiny will still get sick.

"This brother between the Jabariyah and Qodariyah sects is still growing in the community and the government still has to make decisions", he said.

In addition, other differences of opinion occur among sociologists. Mahfud said that there were various opinions expressed by sociologists when responding to policies made by the government to suppress the spread of COVID-19.

But, at the same time, there is also an academic who does not believe in COVID-19. "There is even a professor who says that COVID-19 doesn't exist. That's a professor. This is the first time", he said.

These things are what Mahfud calls work when the government will take policies to control the COVID-19 pandemic. "Policies have been taken and that is why we need a government. So the government still makes decisions", he concluded.