Three Members Of The Bintan DPRD Protest Paid Antigen In The Blocking Area

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TANJUNGPINANG - Three members of the DPRD of Bintan Regency, Riau Islands protested the policy of a Rp150,000 paid antigen swab test in the area bordering the area with Tanjungpinang City.

The Bintan DPRD members are Hasriawady from Golkar, Toha from PKS and Tarmizi from the Hanura Party. In addition, about 30 people also took part in the protest.

"The paid antigen swab test policy is an unwise policy. It is even inhumane," said Hasriawady alias Gentong at the isolation location in Sei Pulai, quoted by Antara, Thursday, July 15.

Hasriawady emphasized that the government and the community in Bintan support the Emergency PPKM in Tanjungpinang, but refuse paid antigens. Residents of Bintan who object to entering Tanjungpinang must pay Rp. 150,000.

"Many Tanjungpinang residents work in Bintan, including 75 percent of staff at the Bintan Regency Government, and a number of private companies in Bintan," he said.

Meanwhile, a member of the Tanjungpinang DPRD, Muhamad Toha, said that Bintan residents who work in Tanjungpinang also object to having to pay for an antigen test of IDR 150,000 every day. While their salary is only around Rp. 2 million.

"If a month they have to go to school, or work elsewhere for 20 days, then they have to pay Rp 4.5 million," said Toha.

Meanwhile, member of the Tanjungpinang COVID-19 Task Force, Riono, who is also the former Secretary of the Tanjungpinang Region, said that there is no obligation for the people of Bintan to take a free antigen test if they work in Tanjungpinang.

"If it's just a trip to Tanjungpinang, it is mandatory for an antigen test. This activity can be postponed," he said.

Riono added that Kimia Farma was asked to do an antigen test at the isolation post, because the Tanjungpinang City Government health workers were in charge of vaccination and handling COVID-19 patients.

"Our number of health workers is limited so we use Kimia Farma," he said.