COVID-19 Perpu Not Designed to Protect Officials: Palace

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The State Palace has rebuffed allegations that the government regulation in lieu of law or Perpu on COVID-19 recently passed by President Jokowi was aimed at creating impunity for decision-making officials who misused the budget of disease outbreak mitigation.

“We have no intention to create any impunity through Perpu 1/2020,” said presidential special staffer for legal affairs Dini Purwono to Tempo on Monday, April 20.

According to her, based on discussions during limited meetings with the President, the Perpu was designed to provide state financial flexibility in dealing with the impact of the COVID-19 on the national economy.

In addition to widening the deficit, Dini continued, financial flexibility was also necessary to secure bilateral loans from abroad if needed.

“So, Perpu 1/2020 is merely aimed at providing space for the government to carry out fiscal stimulus and other necessary measures."

The newly-issued COVID-19 regulation ignited criticism from several national figures, including former speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Amien Rais, chairman of the advisory council of Indonesia Ulema Council (MUI) Din Syamsuddin, former Forestry Minister Malam Sambat Kaban, professor of economy and business from University of Indonesia Sri Edi Swasono, and former advisor of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Abdullah Hehamahua.

According to them, the regulation violates the 1945 Constitution and creates impunity for officials implementing the policy. They have lodged a judicial review of the Perpu 1/2020 at the Constitutional Court (MK).

DEWI NURITA