I see it as a manifestation of the government's concrete preparations to address the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia. The step will lay a legal basis for the government to take firm measures in launching territorial quarantine.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Bambang Soesatyo has put his weight behind the Indonesian government's plan to declare territorial quarantine in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

"I view it as a manifestation of the government's concrete preparations to address the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia. The step will lay a legal basis for the government to take firm measures in launching territorial quarantine," he noted in a written statement issued on Monday.

The central government should also support the decision of its regional counterparts to launch a local lockdown akin to that imposed by the Tegal, Tasikmalaya, Papua, Makassar, and Ciamis city governments, he emphasized.

Soesatyo highlighted the importance of ensuring all public requirements, including clothing, food, and housing, are met if the government were to declare quarantine across the country.

"The government should soon discuss the revision of the state budget, including budget re-allocations for the handling of COVID-19 in Indonesia," he remarked.

He sought the government’s transparency in seeking assistance from and forging cooperation with countries that have successfully contained the COVID-19 pandemic, such as South Korea and Singapore.

As such, all-out efforts should be made to curb the spread of COVID-19 in Indonesia, he noted.

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD had earlier announced that the government was drafting a governmental regulation on territorial quarantine to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Indonesia.

The regulation is deemed necessary since the government cannot spontaneously close one or two regions in the absence of a definite regulation. The regulation is also relevant to the mandate of Law No. 6 of 2018 on health quarantine, he added. Related news: Depok to propose local lockdown to West Java government
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Translator: Imam Budilaksono/Suharto
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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