VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Feb. 3 - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has stressed on the enactment of public activity restrictions (PPKM) at the micro or local level.

"At the limited cabinet meeting just now, the president gave directives, so that COVID-19 is handled more effectively by optimizing the effectiveness of PPKM. The president has urged to apply a micro-based approach or at the local level," Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto stated during a virtual press conference following the meeting here on Wednesday.

Micro approach aims to apply PPKM, starting from the levels of village and neighborhood (RT and RW), and by involving the central task force until the smallest units of the COVID-19 task force.

"Of course, the activities are important to increase the community’s discipline in enforcing the law," Hartarto remarked.

Furthermore, the minister noted that the involvement of civil legal enforcers, such as Babinsa, Babinkamtibmas, and Satpol PP, in the operations, with the assistance of the military (TNI) and police (Polri) officers in the implementation of PPKM is not for law enforcement but also for tracing.

The government will be heedful to the needs of the community and will conduct a dynamic evaluation of the implementation of PPKM.

"The government will concentrate on 98 regions implementing PPKM," he revealed.

Meanwhile, Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian recently issued Ministerial Instruction Number 2 of 2021 on the extension of PPKM in Java and Bali to avert the spread of COVID-19.

Chief of the Information Center at the Home Affairs Ministry Benni Irwan confirmed the ministerial instruction inked on January 22, 2021.

PPKM imposed in seven provinces -- Jakarta, West Java, Banten, Central Java, Yogyakarta, East Java, and Bali -- are extended for another two weeks, starting from January 26 to February 8. The previous PPKM period was from January 11 until January 25, 2021. (Antaranews)