MU Variant Has Emerged In Malaysia, DPR: Ban On Foreign Workers To Indonesia Must Be Realized

Illustrated (Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - A vaccinologist, Dr. Dirga Sakti Rambe, said that the Mu variant which first emerged in Colombia, South America, had already arrived in Malaysia.

In response to this, Member of Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) Kurniasih Mufidayati, asked the Government to tighten the arrival of foreigners whose countries have found many cases of COVID-19 variants of Mu and Lambda. Among them, the United States, Mexico, and Canada, as well as countries in Europe such as the UK.

According to her, tightening and monitoring are important to anticipate the impact of the spread of the Mu, Lambda, and C.1.2 variants of COVID-19 which are currently infecting dozens of countries.

"That's why it's important for international airports in Indonesia to tighten up countries that have a lot of cases of the new variant of COVID-19", said Mufida to VOI, Wednesday, September 15.

The legislator for the DKI Jakarta electoral district reminded that the struggle of citizens to face various levels of Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) for the past two months must be followed by restrictions on the arrival of foreigners from abroad as well. Moreover, said Mufida, the 3 new variants can reduce the body's antibody levels and impact the efficacy of the vaccine.

"Well, don't let our vaccination numbers that are not big enough to be added to the threat of these 3 new variants", she said.

Furthermore, Mufida explained, the Mu variant, which was first detected in January 2021 in Colombia, already exists in 49 countries. This means, she said, the spread has become more massive since it was discovered almost six months ago.

Likewise, the Lambda variant has been detected in 42 countries since it was first discovered in Peru in December 2020. While Variant C.1.2 was first discovered in South Africa in May 2021. This variant is thought to increase transmission ability and avoid the work of the human immune system.

"WHO includes Mu and Lambda variants as variants of interest (VOI), because they are considered quite threatening, can spread more quickly, cause severe infections and escape the COVID-19 vaccine-induced immunity. vaccine. We must be vigilant, don't let our guard down", said Mufida

On the other hand, the PKS Party politician appreciated Vice President KH Ma'ruf Amin's statement that he would tighten all entrances to Indonesia in order to anticipate the entry of three new variants of COVID-19 19 namely Mu, Lambda, and C.1.2.

Moreover, the Ministry of Health reported that 1.636 people who entered Indonesia were confirmed positive despite bringing a negative result letter from their country of origin.

Mufida assessed that the direction of Vice President Ma'ruf and the presence of a thousand positive cases that entered the Republic of Indonesia further strengthened so that the tightening of inflows into the country was immediately applied. Including among them, for foreigners and foreign workers to Indonesia.

"There needs to be a revision of Regulation of the Minister of Law and Human Rights (Permenkumham) 27 of 2021 so that the spirit of banning foreign workers to Indonesia is real. Especially those who get an ITAS but return to their country and then re-enter Indonesia must be rejected under these conditions", concluded Mufida.