Remembering Luhut's Apology Again, Arrogance That Leads To Confession From The Temperamental Minister

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan. (Photo: Doc. Kemenko Marves)

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investments Luhut Binsar Panjaitan apologized because the Emergency Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) had not been implemented optimally, was seen as a form of acknowledgment.

Whereas previously, he stated that the current condition of the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia could be controlled. Luhut vehemently denies various assumptions that state that the pandemic condition in the country is out of control.

"So if someone says that the situation is out of control, it is very, very under control. So those who talk about it being out of control can come to me. Later I will show them that we are under control," Luhut said at an online press conference on Monday, July 12.

A few days later, Saturday, July 17, with an unusual gesture, Luhut apologized for the non-optimal emergency PPKM.

"As the coordinator of the Java-Bali Emergency PPKM from the bottom of my heart, I apologize to all the people of Indonesia if it is still not optimal. But I, along with the relevant staff and ministers, will continue to work hard to ensure that the spread of the delta variant can be reduced," said Luhut .

With this recognition, the chairman of the PAN faction, Saleh Partaonan Daulay, believes that the government understands the challenges and difficulties it faces. Moreover, the rate of exposure to COVID-19 has not shown any signs of decreasing.

"Good, finally Pak Luhut apologized. This apology is also an acknowledgment that COVID-19 is not under control in Indonesia. Well, of course it takes strategy and hard work to deal with it," said Saleh, Monday, July 19.

Sorry to quell the public's anger

Political observer from Al Azhar University in Indonesia, Ujang Komaruddin, sees the apology of the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment as well as the Coordinator of the Java-Bali Emergency PPKM, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, as a step to reduce public anger against the government. Due to the fact, the handling of COVID-19 is not under control.

"The community is no longer stupid, it's people who are directly affected by the impact, they know exactly what the field is like. This handling is considered chaotic, not good, even a lot of busyness here and there. So this is what makes Luhut say 'come here will I show it to his face', it will trigger anger from the people," said Ujang to VOI, Monday, July 19.

According to Ujang, the apology was the result of Luhut's boast that the handling of COVID-19 was very controlled. So, according to him, caused public outrage.

"At the end of it all, Luhut apologized yesterday, it was part of the process so that people would not be too angry with the government. Now people are having a hard time, it's difficult, finding food is difficult, many can't eat. If the communication displayed by the government is arrogance, Arrogance when it doesn't match reality will certainly make people angry," explained the Executive Director of the Indonesia Political Review.

Therefore, the Government through Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan must apologize in order to reduce the anger of the people who are helter-skelter.

"Pak Luhut knows exactly that in order to ease the people's anger and hatred towards the government, it is a positive thing if the government, where Pak Luhut is also the head of the handling of COVID-19 in Java and Bali, apologizes," continued Ujang.

Even not only Luhut, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy who is also the Chair of the KCP-PEN Committee, Airlangga Hartarto, was also reprimanded by President Jokowi, because of poor communication to the public.

"People are in trouble, can't eat, hard to earn money, public communication or mass communication built by Luhut or any official should be cool, which makes the atmosphere cool, it should be like that," said Ujang.

Ujang suggested that when there is strong criticism from observers, the people's academics or the opposition should respond with a smile and good work so that the atmosphere does not get hotter.

"It should be like that. In fact, if the government is good, the people will also take their hats off, if the performance is good, everyone is respectful," he said.

Meanwhile, political observer from Al Azhar University Indonesia Andriadi Achmad, assessed that a temperamental figure such as Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan (LBP) was not suitable to be the coordinator of Emergency PPKM under current conditions.

Because he said, people are not rebels or criminals who must be killed and threatened. So, in the tense situation due to the recent spike in COVID-19 in Indonesia, the government needs a humanist approach in dealing with society, not by bluffing or threatening.

"LBP is too rude when he says that COVID-19 can be controlled. If anyone who doesn't believe is asked to appear, he will present his data that COVID-19 is under control. That's an inappropriate sentence, as if people are being bullied and threatened to believe that COVID-19 in Indonesia is under control. ," Andriadi told VOI, Monday, July 19.

In fact, in fact, it is uncontrollable from the reality of the spike in COVID-19 in Indonesia, even the highest in the world.

"Likewise, LBP's own expression later apologized to the Indonesian people," he continued.

According to Andriadi, if the Emergency PPKM is to be extended, Luhut's position as the Emergency PPKM coordinator needs to be evaluated and even replaced with a more humanist and less temperamental figure.

"Actually, the COVID-19 phenomenon is a threat to the Indonesian state and people (non-military), the direct command should be in the hands of the president or the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs or the Minister of Defense or the head of the BNPB. However, what is the reason for the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment who is the command of this Emergency PPKM? It also raises questions," he said.

In addition, said Andriadi, Luhut's apology to the public is a form of the government's failure to control the pace of COVID-19. In fact, from the beginning the government should have invited all elements of society to work hand in hand and help in dealing with the spread of COVID-19.

"Because the purpose of this Emergency PPKM is clear, it is to temporarily stop community activities in order to reduce mobility. So that it can break the chain of transmission of COVID-19," he said.

Andriadi added that the government needs to pay attention to or cooperate with the private sector to provide compensation for basic necessities or other social assistance to people whose activities have been stopped. Especially small communities or MSME actors who are greatly affected by the Emergency PPKM.

"I think this is a form of government's humanism towards the people," said Andriadi.