House Speaker Puan Maharani Responds to Govt's Plan to Ease PSBB

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The House of Representatives (DPR) Speaker Puan Maharani reminded the government to conduct a comprehensive, thorough study on the evaluation of the Large-Scale Social Restriction or PSBB. 

She opined that the precautionary principle adopted as the order was imposed must also be applied when the government planned to relax the appeal.

“The same principles need to be applied before deciding to ease the PSBB in a region,” said Puan in her closing speech of the DPR’s plenary meeting on Tuesday, May 12.

She stated that the relaxation of physical distancing orders was not about choosing to favor the economy or health sector, but seeking a balance so that the two could work amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to her, a balance must be of concern in order to prevent a surge in infection cases, which will eventually extend the pandemic. She demanded that whatever the government will decide later, it must be disseminated to the public. “Along with coordinated and integrated implementation so as not to cause doubt among the community.”

Besides, Puan Maharani assessed that discipline, solidarity, empathy, and commitment from all elements are necessary to contain the pandemic. To end the pandemic is a joint task that requires mutual cooperation, she added.

The Covid-19 mitigation task force head Doni Monardo earlier stated that the government was preparing to ease the social restrictions on a large scale as instructed by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.

BUDIARTI UTAMI PUTRI