TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - In response to the numerous critics pointing out the government’s slow response in handling the COVID-19 pandemic, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan evaluates that no country is ready in handling the pandemic.

"My question is, which country is ready? Nobody is ready. So if there are experts who say we are not ready; yes, no one has ever thought we would be in this situation," said Luhut as quoted from Antara, on Tuesday, March 24.

According to Luhut, even a country as advanced as the United States is also being troubled by the pandemic. Furthermore, Luhut saw that the United States asked for help from Indonesia related to the chloroquine malaria drug, cited to be effective in treating the coronavirus disease.

"I heard President Trump's statement myself. [And] we are the world's largest chloroquine producer, namely Kimia Farma," he said, adding that he planned to offer the drug production by Kimia Farma as a business opportunity to the US.

Furthermore, Luhut considers public criticism on the government handling of COVID-19 as something normal as it is driven from a lack of knowledge.

In spite of this, Luhut reminded the Indonesian people that the government will never make decisions that are detrimental to its people.

"Indeed, here and there (some details) are not perfect, because the vaccine is not available yet, and we have not seen how matters are going to escalate," added Luhut.

ANTARA | DIO SUHENDA (Intern Translator)