True Leaders during Pandemic

The real leaders are people who “help us overcome the limitations of our own individual laziness and selfishness and weakness and fear and get us to do better, harder things than we can get ourselves to do on our own.”

HUMAS PEMKOT SURABAYA

A health worker tests an ojek (motorcycle taxi) driver for COVID-19 at a coffee shop in Surabaya, East Java, on Monday (13/4/2020). The Surabaya City Administration, the City Police and the Indonesian Military (TNI) launched a large-scale patrol as an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19. The patrol targeted public places, including coffee shops.

The Covid-19 pandemic has not shown signs of abating yet. Under these circumstances some policies are not getting to the roots of the problem.

The House of Representatives’ persistence in proceeding with the discussion of a number of controversial bills is one of them. Among those already confirmed is the debate on the omnibus bill on job creation.

This was affirmed by the House Legislation Body (Baleg) deputy chairman from the National Democratic Party, Willy Aditya, when contacted on Friday (10/4/2020). He said the omnibus bill on job creation was needed as the basis for practicing economic democracy.

The important thing is to direct energy at and get focused on dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The bill is also a manifestation of the political pledge of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to be free from the global crisis and take advantage of the demographic bonus that the nation currently holds.

According to Willy, the House will not only focus on the job creation bill but also several other bills. He mentioned a bill on correctional institutions now being processed in Baleg as an example.

Also read : Postpone Elections, Focus on Covid-19

Some circles have repeatedly warned that there is no urgency to discuss the bill at present. The important thing is to direct energy at and get focused on dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hamdi Muluk, a professor of psychology at the University of Indonesia, said on Sunday (5/4/2020) that even if the debate on the legislation was finished while the pandemic was ongoing, its product could not be implemented. Practically nothing can be done to implement the job creation bill under the outbreak.

Also read : Coronavirus and Politics

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

Manpower Minister Ida Fauziah, Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna H Laoly and Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto attend a meeting with the House of Representatives Legislation Body (Baleg) to discuss the omnibus bill on job creation in Jakarta on April 14. The meeting, which was also live streamed, presented the government’s explanation of the controversial bill.

University of Indonesia sociologist Imam B. Prasodjo indicated that the the House’s lack of concern over the fate of people currently fighting to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic by continuing the discussion of several bills would be recorded in history. The public would also give vent to its dissatisfaction. At this time, though, it would be expressed only by means of social media.

He said Indonesian people and the whole world today were making every effort to prevent the invasion of COVID-19. At the moment, according to Imam, everybody is writing historical records and narrations. These are notes on whatever is done in the course of the crisis. That’s why it is important to leave pleasant memories to future generations.

Presidential decrees

Radian Syam, a lecturer of constitutional law at Trisakti University in Jakarta, said on Friday (10/4) that the President could request that the discussion of the job creation bill and other bills initiated by the government be discontinued. The authority of the president as head of government is stipulated in Article 4 of the 1945 Constitution, which reads, “The President of the Republic of Indonesia shall have government power pursuant to the Constitution.”

Another presidential ruling is expected in the form of a regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) on the postponement of simultaneous regional elections (Pilkada) in 2020. On March 30, the government, the House and general election organizers agreed on the postponement through a Perppu.

Also read : Lessons from Quarantine at Kampung Hitu

Kompas/Bahana Patria Gupta

Health workers wait to perform rapid tests on Indonesian workers returning from Malaysia at the arrival hall of Juanda International Airport in Sidoarjo, East Java, on Wednesday (15/4/2020). One hundred and seventy-two Malaysia Airlines passengers and 78 Citilink passengers were tested. Passengers who tested negative were taken home by bus.

However, the Perppu has not yet been issued. There are some issues connected with the postponement: follow-up scheduling, Pilkada budget refunds and transfers for COVID-19 control and organizational technical adjustments. There’s also the possibility of adopting online campaigning to maintain physical distancing and help break chains of COVID-19 transmission.

What the General Elections Commission (KPU) can do is limited to the postponement of four phases. They are the installation of the Voting Committee (PPS), the verification of requirements to support individual candidates, the formation of the Voters’ Data Updating Committee (PPDP) and the procedure for voters’ list updating and compilation.

This postponement was based on a decision by the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) that extended the status of disaster emergency from Feb. 29 to May 29. The other matters, including who will make the decision on the implementation of Pilkada later, have not yet been determined. The publication of the Perppu is considered a solution to these issues.

There’s also the possibility of adopting online campaigning to maintain physical distancing and help break chains of COVID-19 transmission.

At the more technical policy level, the condition is relatively equivalent despite interagency controversy. For example, Transportation Ministerial Regulation (Permenhub) No.18/2020 on the control of transportation for the prevention of COVID-19 transmission has been issued.

The Permenhub was issued by acting Transportation Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan on April 9. As quoted by kompas.id, the Permenhub allows motorcycles to be used by private individuals and motorcycle taxi drivers to carry passengers if they adhere to hygiene protocols.

However, based on Jakarta Gubernatorial Regulation No.33/2020 on large-scale social restrictions, app-based motorcycle taxis are not permitted to carry passengers. The governor’s rule refers to Health Ministerial Regulation (Permenkes) No.9/2020 on guidelines for large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) within the framework of COVID-19 control acceleration. The Permenkes was enacted by Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto on April 3.

Kompas

See description below. (***)

Confusion

Public policy and consumer protection observer Agus Pambagio said on Sunday (12/4) that the policies should be in the proper order: from the upper level to that of implementation rules. He cited Permenkes No.9/2020 as an example, which is based on Law No.6/2018 on health quarantine and Regulation No.21/2020 on PSBB within the framework of COVID-19 control acceleration.

The Permenkes was then followed up by Jakarta Gubernatorial Regulation No.33/2020. Several regions in Greater Jakarta also followed suit.

“Suddenly there was a regulation from another minister, the Transportation Minister, that was contradictory, not complementary,” said Agus.

In his view, the policies issued by the government had to be mutually complementing. The contradictory policies caused confusion.

The contradictory rules coming from relevant officials indicate the presence of unclear sectorial ego. According to Agus, the major objective today is the elimination of the COVID-19 epidemic. Policies that address the economic condition were secondary, even those in the interest of app-based motorcycle taxis.

Agus said that with regard to app-based motorcycle taxi drivers, the responsible party should be the technology company of which the drivers are partners. Government efforts should concern public transportation instead. Motorcycle taxis or two-wheel motor vehicles were not means of public transportation.

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

Ojek (motorcycle taxi) drivers await passengers and delivery orders along Jl. Prof dr Satrio, Casablanca, South Jakarta, on April 13. Ojek drivers have been some of the worst-hit informal sector workers, as they have seen a sharp decrease in the number of customers.

Leadership in crisis

Regarding leadership in a time of crisis, Agus said he was focusing on policy making to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The appearance of the Permenhub was believed to be an expression of the fear of a lack of government funds to provide financing. PSBB requires regional preparedness and budgets as well as the operation of a social security network and supplies for basic needs.

Agus criticized the policy for enabling close person-to-person physical interaction in the context of transportation. The vital thing for the moment, he thought, was the prevention of the transmission of the virus to other locations.

Such policies seemingly reflect a difference in viewpoints on the relative priorities of certain actions. This is partly caused by the fact that no similar large-scale viral crisis has been experienced in recent memory to provide lessons for this one.

Nancy Koehn’s article entitled “Real Leaders Are Forged in Crisis” published by Harvard Business Review on the website hbr.org on April 3 points out that we are living through a global health crisis with no modern-day precedent. What governments, corporations, hospitals, schools and other organizations need now, more than ever, are what the writer David Foster Wallace called “real leaders”.

Nancy also writes that real leaders are people who “help us overcome the limitations of our own individual laziness and selfishness and weakness and fear and get us to do better, harder things than we can get ourselves to do on our own.”

Still, according to the article, leaders become “real” when they practice a few key behaviors that gird and inspire people through difficult times. As COVID-19 tears its way through country after country, Nancy shares what we can learn from how some of history’s iconic leaders acted in the face of great uncertainty, real danger and collective fear.

KOMPAS/TOTOK WIJAYANTO

Ojek (motorcycle taxi) drivers, taxi drivers, cleaning service workers and security guards queue to receive donated food in Senayan, South Jakarta, on April 10. Several donors have provided food to people affected by COVID-19, which has heavily impacted the economy.

The first point is to acknowledge people’s fears. Then encourage resolve, pointing to the strengths in meeting the crisis. Give people a role and purpose. Emphasize experimentation and learning. Next, tend to energy and emotions. Thus, one critical function of leadership during intense turbulence is to keep your finger on the pulse of people’s energy and emotions and respond as needed.

Meanwhile, the book entitled “7 Lessons for Leading In Crisis” authored by Bill George (2009) mentions seven things to be observed while leading in crisis.

First, face reality, starting with you. Second, get the world off your shoulders, you can’t get through this alone. Third, dig deep for the root cause. Forth, get ready for the long haul. Fifth, never waste a good crisis. Sixth, you’re in the spotlight; follow True North, stay on course. Seventh, go on the offensive; focus on winning now.

As an old proverb says, “A smooth sea never made a skilled mariner.”

George says that the seven lessons are useful in facing a crisis and preparing for the future. The most important thing is that everything can be learned and formed. The stronger the elements that shape a leader, the greater their results will be.

As an old proverb says, “A smooth sea never made a skilled mariner.”

INFOGRAPHICS (***)

Pilkada 2020 Postponement Option due to COVID-19

- The KPU along with the House and the Home Affairs Ministry agreed to postpone Pilkada polling.

- Pilkada was originally scheduled for Sept. 23.

- The postponement was decided due to the spread of COVID-19 in Indonesia.

- The agreement was reached at a hearing held by House Commission II along with the KPU and the Home Affairs Ministry on Monday (30/3/2020).

Three Options for Pilkada 2020

1. Postponement for three months, with elections falling on Dec. 9.

2. Postponement for six months, with elections falling on March 17, 2021.

3. Postponement for 12 months, with elections falling on Sept. 29, 2021.

Sources: Kompas reports, Kompas Research & Development Division/EDR.