Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) instructed the country's military and police institutions to extend all-out support to the government's policies on COVID-19 mitigation efforts and actively help apply stringent health protocols in communities.

The public health crisis, caused by the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) that struck Indonesia since March 2020, has yet to end, Jokowi noted in his directives at a meeting with top military and police brass early this week.

Firstly, President Jokowi ordered all elements within the Indonesian Defence Forces (TNI) and National Police to ensure that the 3M and 3T health protocols are consistently implemented in communities.

3M stands for wearing masks, washing hands, and maintaining physical distance, while 3T stands for COVID-19 swab testing, contact tracing, and treating COVID-19 patients.

At the meeting that the Presidential Secretariat later published on its official YouTube channel, President Jokowi further instructed the TNI and National Police to support the enforcement of small-scale restrictions of public activities.

The village supervisory non-commissioned officers at the TNI and police are demanded to participate in enabling the enforcement of small-scale restrictions on public activities, he affirmed.

"We hope all to work in an integrated manner with one another. The chain of COVID-19 infection can be broken, and this health crisis can immediately be stopped," President Jokowi emphasized.

Regarding the government's endeavors to vaccinate 70 percent of Indonesia's total population, or about 181.5 million people, against COVID-19 to create herd immunity, he instructed the TNI and police to support massive vaccination programs.

The massive vaccinations can be conducted in certain clusters that attract crowds, such as markets and centers of business activities, and villages deemed as "red zones", he remarked.

The TNI and police's quick response to this state's duties are awaited, he remarked, adding that these two important institutions should also continue to secure the distribution of COVID-19 vaccine products to targeted regions, he noted.

The TNI and police must also showcase their active participation in backing efforts to create a conducive business and investment climate to revive the economy that will help provide more job opportunities to the people, he remarked.

To this end, President Jokowi highlighted the importance of preserving political stability and security as well as guaranteeing legal certainty to make the country's business and investment climate more attractive.

"A conducive business and investment climate is indispensable for making Indonesia's economy grow positively," he added. Related news: President vows to resolve challenges to vaccination program
Related news: COVID-19 vaccination major effort to make nation pandemic-free: Jokowi


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Translator: Rangga PAJ, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Suharto
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