Indonesian Cabinet Ministers Advance Covid-19 Handling Meeting After Jokowi's Disentile

Press conference after the meeting of ministers and related institutions at the Kemenkopolhukam (Photo: Documentation of Kemenkopolhukam Public Relations)

JAKARTA - After being teased by President Joko Widodo in a plenary cabinet session some time ago because he was considered not optimal in facing the crisis amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of ministers held a meeting at the Office of the Ministry of Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Kemenko Polhukam).

Ministers attending the meeting were Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (Menko PMK) Muhadjir Effendi, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto, and Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani.

In addition, this meeting was also attended by the Head of the Presidential Staff Office, the Head of the BPKP, the Chairman of the OJK, the Chairperson of the Board of Commissioners of the LPS, the Governor of Bank Indonesia, the Attorney General, the Chief of Police, and the Chairperson of the KPK.

Mahfud said the meeting was held to follow up President Jokowi's order that the handling of COVID-19 be carried out quickly and extraordinarily.

"Yes, this follows up (the president's directive) and is in line at least with what the president said so that he can act quickly and accurately," Mahfud said in his statement, Monday, June 29.

He said this meeting discussed a number of government policies regarding handling COVID-19. According to him, this must be implemented for the needs of the 260 million Indonesians. Including, monitoring of the use of the COVID-19 countermeasures budget.

"We ask to be monitored, for that we invite the KPK, Attorney General, Kapolri, and others. Because we want this legally correct, fast, and not hindering," he said, saying that the budget provided by the state could be used through appropriate procedures and legitimate.

"We also emphasize that the fight against corruption must continue," he added.

It is known that this was a meeting of the Forward Indonesia Cabinet Ministers which was held after President Jokowi berated his ministers during a cabinet meeting on 18 June.

The former governor of DKI Jakarta was angry and rebuked the minister for being casual in making decisions even though currently the atmosphere is in crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Our actions, our decisions, our policies, the atmosphere has to be a crisis atmosphere. Don't just make ordinary policies, consider this to be normal. What is this," said Jokowi in a video posted on the YouTube account of the Presidential Secretariat. , Sunday, June 28th.

He considered, in times like this, all policies should be in accordance with the crisis conditions. The former governor of DKI Jakarta even said that in a crisis situation, he was even ready to issue a Regulation in Lieu of Law (Perppu) and Presidential Regulation (Perpres).

In front of his ministers, Jokowi touched on several things. The first is regarding spending in a number of ministries. From the results of the reports he received, he saw that his achievements were still mediocre. In fact, he hopes that the massive spending at the ministry will spur Indonesia's economy which is sluggish due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

He gave an example of the Ministry of Health. Jokowi said that this ministry received a budget of IDR 75 trillion. However, what was spent was only 1.53 percent. In fact, the sooner this money is issued, the economic trigger will occur.

Jokowi also mentioned payments for doctors, specialists and medical personnel that must be processed and removed immediately. "Shopping for equipment will be issued soon. It has already provided Rp 70 trillion like that," he said.

Finally, before closing his speech, President Jokowi asked all parties in the government to take extraordinary steps and not make existing regulations an obstacle. Moreover, he admitted that he was ready to make a Perppu as long as it was for the benefit of the people and for the state.

"As long as it is for the people, as long as it is for the country, I will put my political reputation at stake. Once again, this will really be felt by all of us. Do not let anything disturb," he said.

He also admitted that he was ready to open political and governmental steps so that all his policies could work to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jokowi admits that he does not hesitate to reshuffle or change cabinets and dissolve institutions that are not working optimally amid these conditions. "It is possible to dissolve the institution, it could be a reshuffle. I have thought about where I am. Or make a Perppu which is even more important if it is necessary," he said.

"It means that I will take extraordinary hard actions. ... I sincerely ask you, ladies and gentlemen, to understand what I said earlier. Hard work in this atmosphere is very necessary. Speed in this atmosphere is very important. needed, "he concluded.