Anies Baswedan Asked to Roll Out Cash Aid before Pulling Emergency Brake

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Legislative Council (DPRD) Head of Commission overseeing administrative affairs, Mujiyono, asked Governor Anies Baswedan to disburse the first phase of next year's direct cash assistance or BLT before pulling the emergency brake which tightens the local lockdown or known as Large-Scale Social Restriction (PSBB).

“If the city wants to take the emergency brake, the cash aid for vulnerable and underprivileged communities must be delivered first,” said Mujiyono in a written statement on Monday, Dec. 28.

The city administration, he said, must also maintain the sufficient and affordable price of basic needs and ease it by providing online sales. Besides, the regional government was expected to coordinate with the Health Ministry regarding the Covid-19 vaccination program.

Mujiyono opined that the role of the Covid-19 task force in the community unit or RW level could be optimized to disseminate the immunization program, Regional Regulation No. 2/2020 on Covid-19 prevention, and the health protocols (3M) of wearing face masks, maintaining distance, and washing hands. “And also, support them by providing needed facilities and infrastructures,” he added.

The Democrat Party politician said Anies Baswedan should not hesitate to pull the emergency brake if the city is well-prepared. The trend of Covid-19 cases that kept increasing out of control in recent weeks must be anticipated by enforcing tighter social restrictions, he underlined.

“The virus positivity rate in Jakarta over the past week has reached 11.1 percent,” Mujiyono said.

Also Read: Anies Baswedan to Undergo Covid-19 Test After Self Isolating since December 1

IMAM HAMDI