We will not surrender to this situation
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), Sufmi Diasco Ahmad, has expressed support for the government’s decision to extend the enforcement of public activity restrictions (PPKM) to suppress COVID-19 transmission.

“I support the extension of the enforcement of PPKM. This is a hard decision. However, it has to be taken to save our (Indonesian) people’s lives,” he remarked here on Monday.

He said he also agreed with President Joko Widodo on the success of the PPKM.

The program has suppressed the number of COVID-19 positive cases, he said. However, the program has not reached the target of realizing a significant decline in cases to 10 thousand per day, he added.

According to the Indonesian COVID-19 task force’s official website, Indonesia added 38,679 cases on July 25, 2021.

“Hence, the public has to comply with the enforcement of activity restrictions,” Ahmad stressed.

He also urged all citizens to continue to observe the health protocols strictly, saying the key to any government regulation against the pandemic is people's awareness of the need for compliance with protocols.

Such awareness includes avoiding crowds, he said adding, hence, people should not hold any demonstrations amid the pandemic.

He noted that the government highly appreciates public aspirations. However, he said he was concerned by the emergence of a new COVID-19 infection cluster due to a recent demonstration.

“To Indonesian people, please be patient. Let’s hope this extended enforcement of PPKM Level 4 can reduce the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases significantly. We will not surrender to this situation,” he remarked.

Ahmad, who is also DPR RI’s COVID-19 task force coordinator, further stated that the government has allocated an enormous budget for people affected by the pandemic for the social cash transfer program (BST) and other stimulus.

Hence, all Indonesian residents must support the government’s attempts to curb COVID-19 transmission by getting vaccinated and following the health protocols, he added.

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Translator: Imam Budilaksono, Uyu Liman
Editor: Sri Haryati
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