Epidemiologist Blasts State Official Over 'Pandemic Incompetence'

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - University of Indonesia (UI) epidemiologist Pandu Riono on Sunday suggests the disbandment of the COVID-19 handling committee and national economic recovery (KPC-PEN) to President Joko Widodo. 

Riono argued that the committee, led by Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto, has failed to handle the pandemic and rather focused more on economic recovery over other aspects in the pandemic. 

“The KPC-PEN serves no use anymore, they have failed and must be disbanded for only focusing on economic recovery because it is led by the Coordinating Economic Minister,” he told Tempo on Sunday, July 4. 

Citing an official document Tempo obtained, Minister Airlangga pitched a contrasting suggestion to those suggested by Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Pandjaitan in terms of aspects that are restricted during the emergency PPKM, which the latter spearheads. 

In a meeting on the Emergency PPKM, Airlangga suggested malls and restaurants remain open with operational hours cut down to a bare minimum while Luhut suggested the closure of malls and restaurants and limited services of takeaway deliveries. The regulation suggested by Luhut was eventually enforced. 

“Airlangga is seen as incapable of handling it by Jokowi. It was then handed to Luhut,” said the epidemioligst, who suggested the country’s COVID-19 pandemic be controlled under the direct orders of the President. 

Read: Warnings Foreseeing COVID-19 Surge in May 'Ignored': Epidemiologist

DEWI NURITA