Waiting for Empathy from People\'s Representatives
Community solidarity has thus far played an important role in overcoming the problems that occur during self-isolation, as well as in general Covid-19 mitigation efforts.
By
KOMPAS EDITOR
·3 minutes read
The Secretariat General of the House of Representatives (DPR) has provided self-isolation facilities in hotels for DPR members who are exposed to Covid-19, with the cost to be borne by the state.
Amid the limited availability of health facilities, self-isolation is a solution for Covid-19 patients who are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms. However, a number of problems have been found among people in self-isolation, such as uneven distribution of medicines from the government for self-isolating patients, limited facilities at patient homes, and lack of supervision.
Community solidarity has thus far played an important role in overcoming the problems that occur during self-isolation, as well as in general Covid-19 mitigation efforts. Communities in a number of places have taken action to help self-isolating residents. Other movements, such as those to assist health workers, have also sprung up.
Community solidarity and generosity, which led to the Charities Aid Foundation placing Indonesia as the most generous country in the world in 2021, was also evident when the family of businessman Akidi Tio donated Rp 2 trillion to the Covid-19 response. Secretary-general Eddy Soeparno of the National Mandate Party (PAN) also announced that he had donated his entire salary as a DPR member to the country’s Covid-19 mitigation efforts.
However, lawmaker Saleh Daulay once pointed out to Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin that there should be no more Covid-19 deaths among DPR members who contracted the disease and then did not receive intensive care. Earlier, PAN Deputy Secretary-General Rosaline Irene Rumaseuw also asked the government to provide a special hospital for DPR members and officials.
A number of DPR members also said they would not use the self-isolation facility provided by the DPR Secretariat General.
Afterwards, her colleagues admonished Rosaline for her statement because they deemed it inappropriate. A number of DPR members also said they would not use the self-isolation facility provided by the DPR Secretariat General.
The stance to avoid using the self-isolation facility is quite natural. DPR members have networks and facilities such as official residences, as well as sufficient income. This gives them more alternatives compared to members of the general public if they must self-isolate after contracting Covid-19.
If they want to self-isolate in a hotel by spending Rp 600,000 per night, which is the rate for the hotel accommodation provided by the DPR Secretariat General, this is not difficult for lawmakers. Nevertheless, Rp 600,000 is twice the amount of cash assistance distributed to the poor, namely Rp 300,000 per month.
In the end, empathy is expected during this pandemic from the elite, including DPR members. If they feel any limitations to their capacity to help the community, at least do not add to the problem or make things worse; or at least try to continue carrying out their duties optimally, for example in legislation. According to the Indonesian Center for Law and Policy Studies, of the 50 draft laws (RUUs) originally included in the 2020 National Legislation Program that were then revised to 37, only 13 bills have been passed into law.