Chairman of the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) who is also a former Vice President Jusuf Kalla, some time ago, criticized the invitation of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to ask people to make peace with Covid-19. In fact, JK considered making peace with Covid-19 at risk of death.
Responding to JK’s statement, Chief Expert Staff of the Presidential Staff Office (KSP) Donny Gahral Adian emphasized that what Jokowi meant in terms of making peace with a new life in the midst of a pandemic, not peace with a virus.
“Now it must be straightened out is from Mr. JK, (the intention) Mr. Jokowi not at peace with the virus, but at peace with new life after the epidemic,” Donny said when contacted by Suara.com, Thursday (5/21/2020).
Donny said, making peace in a pandemic situation that is, getting used to using masks, diligently washing hands, not physically touching and away from the crowd.
“So that’s what it means, so it’s not reconciled with the virus. The virus will still be dealt with by medical means.”
Donny also said, the intention of Jokowi to make peace with Covid-19 was not to give up. However, following the health protocol and implementing physical distancing.
“So do not then surrender, make peace and not surrender, making peace adjusts our habits with this pandemic situation. If we go out of the house we usually don’t wear masks now, wear masks,” he said
“Going out of the house is usually crowded in cars, now we have to reduce the number of passengers, we can go outside using the Gojek, now we can no longer be banned. So things like that are meant by making peace. Making peace means adjusting our habits,” he said.
Previously, Jusuf Kalla or JK actually considered making peace with Covid-19 at risk of death.
JK said Covid-19 is a vicious virus. The virus attacks humans indiscriminately. Society can fight Covid-19 by changing a lifestyle that is more disciplined about cleanliness. At present, people must be more diligent in washing their hands with soap to use masks, not instead making peace with Covid-19.
“It does not mean we are at peace, the risk is dead,” JK said in a University of Indonesia webinar discussion on Tuesday (05/18/2020).
According to the 10th and 12th Vice Presidents of the Republic of Indonesia, peace can only be realized if there is an agreement between the two parties. Whereas it would not be possible if only humans wanted peace.
“If we make peace, if we both want to make peace, if we only want peace but the virus does not, what do we do?” he asked.
“So the term peace is somewhat inappropriate because peace must be on both sides.”
