TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) has warned the people not to play cat and mouse, in their attempt to escape officers enforcing the mudik ban during the COVID-19 pandemic.

YLKI Chief of Daily Operations, Tulus Abadi, explained that forcing to go through with mudik or homecoming can jeopardize a number of parties, as it increases the chance of COVID-19 transmission.

"As is the case in Cilacap, seven homecomers who used travel car services later tested positive for COVID-19," Tulus said in his statement, on Wednesday, April 29, 2020.

According to Tulus, if an urgent need to travel were to arise, legislation must first be taken care of with regulators. As a result, the authorities can ensure would-be homecomers travel in good health.

On the other hand, to ensure that the imposed national mudik ban runs smoothly, Tulus urged the government for consistency in providing the social safety net for people with economic difficulties. The assistance, Tulus continued, must be in adequate quantities, both for logistics and housing costs.

Currently, Tulus revealed, the YLKI has received complaints from communities living in Large Scale Social Restriction (PSBB) areas. Of the reports received, the social assistance received by the community is only valued at Rp150,000 and consists of five kilograms of rice, a liter of cooking oil, two packs of biscuits and instant noodles.

In fact, Tulus pointed out, the government has announced their intention to provide social assistance valued at Rp600,000 per week since the enactment of the first PSBB period. As a result, Tulus emphasized the importance for the government to be consistent, including in social assistance provision.

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA | DIO SUHENDA (INTERN TRANSLATOR)