TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Piter Abdullah Redjalam, an economist from the Center of Reform on Economics (CORE) and a lecturer at Perbanas Institute, argued there was no urgency for the establishment of the national economic recovery team by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo that aimed at resolving impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“If existing institutions are capable of carrying out their roles optimally, I don’t think we will need a new commission,” said Piter to Tempo on Monday, July 20.

To restore the national economy, Piter opined, the government must tap into the existing institutions, such as the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs. Instead of presenting benefits, a new formation contrasted with the government’s plan to dismiss institutions with poor roles.

“This team establishment also confirms that task forces and ministries or institutions do not work well,” Piter added.

As reported earlier, the government formed the national COVID-19 mitigation and economic recovery team in an effort to deal with the impacts of the ongoing pandemic on the economy. The team consists of the national economic recovery and transformation and the existing COVID-19 mitigation task force.

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said President Jokowi had inked the government regulation related to the formation of the team, which woul be under the coordination of several ministries, including the Home Affairs Ministry and the Health Ministry.

Read: Erick Thohir Leads COVID-19 Economic Recovery Team

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA