TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Founder of a crowd-sourced database volunteer group KawalCovid-19, Elina Ciptadi, argued that the government was not strictly enforcing the Large-Scale Social Restriction (PSBB) since the onset of the arrival of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) Rizieq Shihab in Indonesia.

“[The government] has been wrong since the beginning. Why did they not quarantine [Rizieq] once he arrived, and the governor even visited him?” said Elina to Tempo on Monday, November 16, 2020.

Elina also questioned why events attended by Rizieq were not banned amid the social restriction. “Not only his daughter’s wedding but also the event in Megamendung,” she added.

Although the government imposed a fine of Rp50 million on Rizieq, Elina argued that it was not about the matter. “Such a fine is not enough to treat even one Covid-19 patient in a hospital. It is not about the fine but about the events that are allowed,” she said.

A large crowd occurring in Petamburan clearly violated the Transitional PSBB rule in Jakarta, said the KawalCovid-19 founder. The same regulation should have been enforced to all parties. “This is a bad precedent. Do not let those who are usually obedient [to the health protocol] become ignorant because of selective rule enforcement.”

Rizieq Shihab held a wedding ceremony for his daughter on Saturday, November 14, 2020, attracting a huge crowd of around 7,000 people. He also held a mass event to celebrate the birthday of Prophet Muhammad in Petamburan, West Jakarta.

Also Read: Rizieq Shihab Fined Rp50mn for Violating Health Protocol

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