PKS Laments Poor Preparations of Eijkman Merger into BRIN

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A PKS faction member of the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission overseeing health, Kurniasih Mufidayati, lamented that the merger of the Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology into the National Innovation Research Agency (BRIN) was not well-prepared.

Mufida said the merger was carried out when the institute was executing major activities related to COVID-19. “Including the development of the Merah Putih vaccine, whose completion target remains unknown until now,” she said in a statement, Monday, January 3.

Besides, the institute is conducting whole-genome sequencing of the COVID-19 variant. Mufida assessed that the merger should ensure that the current research and development activities can continue or even be faster.

The merger, she went on, should not neglect non-state civil servant (non-PNS) researchers. Options for the dismissed researchers should also require time, both from the selection process and the so-called research scholarship process as they are related to the annual budget.

The PKS politician claimed she is worried that international institutions collaborating with and supporting Eijkman would withdraw and reassess their cooperation.

“The issue is about trust. Moreover, the BRIN Steering Committee consists of politicians and business actors, instead of professionals in the field of research, which raises questions. This is again about trust,” Mufida remarked.

Read: Eijkman: Merah Putih Vaccine to Be Tested against Delta Variant

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