Faisal Basri: Indonesia's Handling Of COVID-19 Is Like Bajaj, The Philippines Is Like Ferrari

JAKARTA - Senior economist Faisal Basri said that in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, the government must be more assertive in prioritizing health. He considered that health and the economy could not go hand in hand because the recovery process would take longer and be slower.

"So this is also economic number two. Maybe three. Handling COVID-19 which is slow to a little too late effects (will make) economic recovery like a jellyfish. Like a turtle, like a bajaj", he said in a virtual discussion, Friday, July 16.

According to Faisal, the government has always wanted health and the economy to go hand in hand. This is a problem in efforts to deal with COVID-19. In fact, he said, many countries have proven that if they focus on dealing with health, the economy will recover quickly.

Furthermore, said Faisal, the government should follow the example of the Philippine government in dealing with the pandemic. He said the country's government dared to take decisions to prioritize health care.

"If the Philippines is a bit crazy for its president, it's the speed like a Ferrari, the speed of recovery", he said.

Faisal also highlighted that Turkey and India had suffered, but then the death rate could be reduced lower than Indonesia and the recovery was faster.

"Turkey, India, although he is a subvert, the death rate is lower than Indonesia and the economic recovery is faster because the policies are really firm, bold, sick but for a while", he explained.

So far, said Faisal, the government continues to compare economic conditions with other countries. In fact, stressing that the economy only plummeted 5 percent. In fact, Indonesia's economic recovery is considered to take longer than other countries.

"The government said our growth fell only 5 percent, look at the Philippines, it fell 12 percent. Yes, 12 percent because they are bold they don't allow mobility, but after the case fell the economy went up. That's what makes us angry", he said.

The Indonesian government itself has almost 2 weeks implemented the Emergency PPKM policy. This effort was carried out by the government to reduce the number of positive cases of COVID-19, which had touched a record 50,000 cases per day.