Controlling Virus Spread, Social Minister Emphasizes the Importance of Embracing Informal Leaders

JAKARTA (21 June 2021) - To overcome the increasing cases of transmission of the Covid-19 virus, Social Minister Tri Rismaharini emphasized the importance of leadership. The Social Minister stated that leader determines the extent to which the pandemic can be controlled.

"Leadership in Covid-19 era is indeed very influential. If we don't understand (on how the control measures are carried out), then our city will become a black zone," said the Social Minister after becoming an interviewee in the online Training Professional Work Lecture I (KKP I) Education and Training of the Indonesian Republic Police (POLRI) in Jakarta (21/06).

The Social Minister stated that handling the pandemic requires the cooperation of all parties. She emphasized the importance of embracing not only formal figures, but also informal figures, namely community leaders, religious leaders, cultural leaders, traditional leaders, and so on.

 
"We have to work together, we can't do it alone. We cooperate with community leaders, we collaborate with religious leaders to do this. Central government nor regional government can do this alone," said the Social Minister at the event with the theme "Strategies for Developing Resources for Consolidating the Handling of COVID-19 to Realize Healthier Indonesia".

The Social Minister asked all parties to be optimistic. The pandemic can be overcome with the good cooperation of all parties. "I am sure we can. I've experienced the same thing in Surabaya. I was assisted by the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), TNI, Polri, and other related parties. Thank God, the black zone status can turn into yellow zone," said the Social Minister.

She reiterated President Joko Widodo's directive which emphasized the importance of micro-scale handling. "That's what I've done. I think that's the best solution in handling the pandemic. Because we can't compare it with abroad, where the lock-down is carried out," she said.

The impacts of lock-down policy on abroad can be controlled because the economic activity is high there. “Their people can save money from their monthly salary and use it to survive. Meanwhile, here, we have many people whose daily income is only enough to pay their daily needs. On the next day, it's gone," she said.

The Social Minister invites all parties to comply with government policies by implementing 3M discipline: wearing masks, washing hands, and maintaining distance. The Ministry of Social Affairs is currently implementing various policies to suppress the spread of Covid-19 such as providing hand washing facilities with soap, social distancing rules, work from home (WFH) policies through Circular Letter No. 1014/1/KP.07.07/6/2021.

Public Relations Bureau

Ministry of Social Affairs