The Extension Of Emergency PPKM Reaps Pros And Cons Of DPR, What Does Luhut Say?

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan (Irfan Meidianto/VOI)

JAKARTA - A number of speculations about the extension of the Java and Bali Emergency Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) for 4 weeks have surfaced in the community. Following the case of COVID-19 in Indonesia, it has not slowed down, even skyrocketed.

Originally, the Emergency PPKM policy was in effect from 3-20 July 2021. However, it was rumored that it would be extended until next August.

Responding to this, Spokesperson for the COVID-19 Task Force (Satgas) Wiku Adisasmito said, if the COVID-19 condition is not under control, it is possible to extend the emergency PPKM.

"The government will continue to see the effects of implementation on the ground. If the (COVID-19) conditions are not sufficiently controlled, then the extension of the policy (emergency PPKM) or the implementation of other policies is not impossible," said Wiku, Tuesday, July 13.

However, the extension of this policy raises pros and cons among the parliament. Members of the DPR feel that if the Emergency PPKM is extended it will further complicate the lives of small communities.

Others said that the Emergency PPKM should be taken as a step to stop the spread of the more violent Delta variant of COVID-19.

So what did the council members say about the extension of this Emergency PPKM? What is the Government Saying?

Member of Commission IX of the House of Representatives from the Nasdem Faction, Nurhadi, assessed that if the Emergency PPKM was extended, the condition of the poor people would be more difficult. It does not even rule out the possibility that the poor are getting poorer.

"But I understand the importance of this PPKM being extended. Therefore, the government must take everything into account properly. The impact of extending this Emergency PPKM must be anticipated. Starting from how to think about street vendors and their policy solutions," said Nurhadi, Wednesday, July 14.

According to him, the government should be able to ensure the effectiveness of this policy if it is really extended. Because so far there are still loopholes made by the community to disobey or violate the implementation of this Emergency PPKM.

"The government must be really firm and measurable. The reduction in cases must be targeted and services to patients must be adequate," said Nurhadi.

"If it really has to be extended, it must also ensure that the scenario of community protection, the service process must be effective so as to reduce the death rate," he continued.

In addition, said Nurhadi, before there is a policy to extend the PPKM, it is best to first look at the development of the implementation of this Emergency PPKM.

"Evaluated to what extent the practice has been effective, has it been effective in suppressing community mobility? Can it reduce positive cases of COVID-19? What are the impacts caused by PPKM, especially in the economic sector? Can social assistance be distributed to affected communities? I can't even eat," the East Java legislator reminded him.

At least, added Nurhadi, things like that need to be considered more seriously first. "Although the main intention is for the safety of the human soul," he said.

Member of Commission IX of the DPR from the PDIP faction, Rahmad Handoyo, agreed that the government would extend the implementation of the Emergency Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) until the next 4-6 weeks.

"I agree that the Emergency PPKM should be extended. Based on the indicators, it should be extended," said Rahmad, Wednesday, July 14.

According to him, the things that require the Emergency PPKM to be extended include, among others, because the number of exposed to COVID-19 is still very high, community mobility is still congested, and many hospitals are already full. "Then, in fact, the red zone has increased, so there is no reason not to extend it, it is necessary to extend this emergency-scale PPKM," explained Rahmad.

"Well, it's just an evaluation of how the implementation of this emergency PPKM is. In terms of mobility, it has started to decrease a lot but there are still many violations here and there which are still quite high, then economic actors are still carrying out activities," he added.

Then, he continued, health protocols, especially in markets, still have no distance and no masks. For this reason, said Rahmad, it must be one of the common concerns so that it can be evaluated thoroughly.

Exposure to Covid which is still high, explained Rahmad, is also exacerbated by the Delta variant. Thus, all parties must further tighten health protocols and be more obedient to Emergency PPKM. Even those on duty in the field do not hesitate to convey education and educational sanctions to the community.

The PDIP politician also asked the government to immediately distribute assistance to the community, such as cash social assistance. "I hope that it can be right on target, indeed those who receive their rights because they are experiencing economic difficulties must receive social assistance from the state," said Rahmad.

In addition, the Government must also multiply and accelerate the vaccination process. Because, during this pandemic, especially in Emergency PPKM, vaccination tends to decrease somewhat.

"While one of our weapons in the fight against COVID-19 is vaccine immunization. So we multiply the spots so that there is no buildup that causes crowds, which will actually create the potential for new clusters," said Rahmad.

One solution, Rahmad added, is cooperation with schools. Then the police and TNI were assigned to almost every sub-district. Also, cooperation with mass organizations can assist the vaccination process.

"So that after being reproduced, we hope that herd immunity will be achieved," said Rahmad.

Government: No Decision to Extend Emergency PPKMKM

A spokesman for the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment (Menko Marves) Jodi Mahardi said that until now the government has not made a decision.

"There is no plan for an extension yet, but we will evaluate it later," said Jodi, Wednesday, July 14.

According to him, the government has continued to monitor population mobility since the Emergency PPKM was implemented on July 3, 2021. Based on data collected on July 11-12, Jodi said, the mobility of residents in the number of areas in Java and Bali has decreased.

In DKI Jakarta, for example, population mobility has decreased to minus 21.3 percent. Then, in West Java, it fell minus 9 percent, and in Banten minus 18.1 percent.

However, at the same time, the number of areas have experienced increased mobility, such as in the northern coastal areas of West Java and Central Java.

"We hope that in the next few days, there will be more yellow areas (the decline in mobility from minus 20 to minus 30 percent)," said Jodi.

Jodi said that the decline in the population mobility index in a number of areas showed an improvement during the Emergency PPKM.

This trend of improvement needs to be continued through the implementation of Emergency PPKM that is more consistent and targets points where the mobility of its citizens is still high. A persuasive approach is also needed by cooperating with community leaders.

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, said Jodi, had asked the National Police Chief to instruct the Regional Police Chief and his staff to continue blocking roads. Luhut wants the partition to be carried out not only on ring 1 roads but also ring 2.

Police officers were also asked to patrol residential areas to ensure residents comply with health protocols.

"Mr. Coordinating Minister asked for inspections of essential industries that apply the night shift so that they still follow the 50 percent capacity rule," said Jodi.

The government hopes that population mobility can continue to be reduced so that cases of COVID-19 are reduced.

"And we can gradually relax the economy so that people can return to their activities with the implementation of the prokes that remains tight," said Jodi.