Indonesia will be 76 years old. Throughout the passage of time, this country has faced various challenges but survived the trials. With the Covid-19 pandemic, all the nation’s components are also moving on to surmount it
JAKARTA, KOMPAS — From the era of struggle against colonialism to independence on 17 August 1945, all achievements were secured with the spirit of never giving up and the struggle involving all the forces of the nation’s different elements. The same was true of the subsequent historical events that were bathed in perspiration and tears, such as the multidimensional crisis of 1998, followed by rioting and ending in the Reform movement.
Now, the diverse elements of the nation are striving to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts.
A professor of Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University, Jakarta, Azyumardi Azra, said the Indonesian population had indeed nurtured the tradition of togetherness and solidarity. This is reflected in several phrases, including gotong royong (mutual assistance), mangan ora mangan asal ngumpul (whether we eat or not, being together is important) and berat sama dipikul ringan sama dijinjing (sharing joys and sorrows together).
“Togetherness and philanthropy are strengthening and escalating in the difficult periods, like the COVID-19 pandemic. This social capital is very important for the rescue of Indonesia during a crisis. Social capital is also very instrumental when the government is unable to fully overcome the crisis and the social, economic and political impacts of COVID-19,” said Azyumardi.
Moving together
Working together to deal with the pandemic is apparent in various sectors. In the business sector, for instance, Toyota Indonesia recently purchased 76,500 COVID-19 vaccine doses and distributed them for free to people around its factories and dealers. The vaccines were procured through the gotong royong vaccination program of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin).
The corporate affairs director of PT Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indonesia, Bob Azam, said Toyota Indonesia also avoided cutting salaries or laying off employees during the pandemic.
Kompas/Heru Sri Kumoro
Training activities for members of the Heritage Flag-raising Troop at the South Tangerang Mayor\'s Office yard, Thursday (12/8/2021). They are high school students who were selected for the Independence Anniversary commemoration ceremony on August 17, 2021.
Different religious social organizations have also taken action from the beginning of the pandemic. To date, 86 Muhammadiyah hospitals have become COVID-19 referral hospitals. By 3 August 2021, the hospitals under Muhammadiyah management had served 25,944 COVID-19 patients. Muhammadiyah hospitals also provide COVID-19 vaccinations, distribute social aid and educate people on practicing health protocols.
The general health development assembly chairman of the Muhammadiyah Central Board, M Agus Samsudin, said all the nation’s elements should unite to jointly put an end to the pandemic.
Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) has also carried out various activities to support the most vulnerable groups in the pandemic. In order to serve residents, the NU COVID-19 Care Task Force offered mobile vaccinations for Islamic boarding schools and residents around the schools.
“In this month of independence we also want [Indonesia] to be free from COVID-19,” said NU COVID-19 Care Task Force Chairman Makky Zamzami.
Additionally, the Jakarta Archbishopric formed a new institute called the Catholic Charity Body to distribute aid collected not only by Catholics but also the general public. Santa Maria Fatima School, Jakarta, has been converted into an emergency hospital for COVID-19 patients coming from disadvantaged families in need of self-isolation rooms.
Movements of almost the same kind are undertaken by other religious organizations in Indonesia.
KOMPAS/IQBAL BASYARI
A number of residents underwent health screening before being vaccinated at the Serviam Vaccination Center at Santa Ursula School, Jakarta, Thursday (6/5/2021). The Serviam Vaccination Center was initiated by Catholic school alumni to provide vaccinations for interfaith DKI Jakarta residents.
Hope
According to the chairman of the Indonesian Archbishops Conference (KWI), Ignatius Cardinal Suharyo, all the efforts made to help overcome the COVID-19 pandemic constituted a manifestation of the spirituality of hope. Amid the difficult situation, people are not merely waiting but striving to find a way-out. This spirit should be further spread so as to grow into a major movement to be free from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The character of the Indonesian nation with regard to solidarity is remarkable, very strong. It’s only a matter of who is going to set it in motion,” said the cardinal.
In this context, deputy II of the Presidential Staff Office (KSP), Abetnego Tarigan, said the government appreciated the attempts of religious mass organizations like Muhammadiyah, NU, KWI, Indonesian Council of Churches (PGI), Buddha Tzu Chi, philanthropists, private companies and other social groups to actively help control the pandemic.
The character of the Indonesian nation with regard to solidarity is remarkable, very strong. It’s only a matter of who is going to set it in motion.
“The government’s responsibility concerns how to conduct the orchestration so that the prevailing spirit does not work separately. Regarding this, the President [Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo] at Cabinet meetings has always emphasized national solidarity. He has even assigned the coordinating human development and culture minister [Muhadjir Effendy] to consolidate this national solidarity,” he said.
The roles of orchestration, according to Abetnego, are to be assumed by the central and regional governments. The KSP, among others, opened communication with various civil society networks, religious organizations and other social groups. The KSP facilitates the supply of data and information while bridging the interests of the diverse elements in society to cope with the pandemic.
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