Welcome back to another edition of the Nuiceletter. This past week people found out that the cost of PCR testing in India is a fraction of the cost in this country (it’s been over a year and a half), Nigeria recalled its Ambassador to Indonesia after one of their diplomats was manhandled by Indonesian immigration officials, Louis Vuitton got dragged into a parliamentary budget controversy, and the government is going after some graffiti artists.
Jokowi Wants PCR Cost Halved
It began when several people noted that the price for a PCR test in India was around eight times less than what they would cost in Indonesia. The country has been fixing the cost of RT-PCR tests involving state-run labs and facilities at between Rs500–1200 (Rp96,768–232,224) depending on the region, the highest being if officials had to perform the swab at someone’s private home.
In Indonesia testing is free when there’s an official recommendation letter from the Covid-19 task force, a clinic, or a hospital but that’s typically only for those who are symptomatic or determined as a close contact. Unfortunately testing is mandated for travel, commute, work, or to enter certain buildings, and there are many occasions in which testing is required in private situations. This is where the paid tests are in play and out of reach for many Indonesians.
While the cost in Indonesia is still low when compared to prices in other cities across the globe, (see the below chart compiled by Skytrax for testing at airports), the price (which is about a fourth of the minimum wage in Indonesia) is out of reach for most Indonesians. Experts believe this is why the government has been struggling to meet its target of testing 400,000 people per day.
Indonesian netizens are not having it, saying if India can do it, Indonesia can too. As is the case in Indonesia, when netizens are talking you can bet the government will do something about it. Talk about viral news-based policy, eh?
On Sunday, President Jokowi said health facilities across the country should be able to reduce the price by half. “I have spoken to the health minister about this. I ask that the cost of the PCR test is in the range of Rp450,000 to Rp550,000," he said. "I also ask that the PCR test result is available within 24 hours at most. We need speed."
Now just because Jokowi has said this, doesn’t mean prices will go down right away. It might take some time before this instruction is actually implemented, if at all. Look at the vaccination goals for example, we’re barely hitting half the target each month.
Louis Vuitton for DPRD Tangerang
Clothing budget for the Tangerang City Regional Representatives Assembly (DPRD) had more than doubled this year, increasing from Rp312.5 million in 2020 to around Rp 675 million in material alone, not including tailor fees. The reason for the budget increase is that this year, the DPRD decided that they were going to make two sets of working clothes for council members using Louis Vuitton materials.
Tangerang City DPRD speaker Gatot Wibowo said he had no knowledge of the budget increase or the fact that the DPRD is procuring LV materials to produce clothes for council members. What is even weirder is that LV Indonesia said that they only sell ready-to-wear clothes not fabrics. Besides, if you do the math, the price is too cheap for a real LV.
After much public criticism, including from the Home Affairs Ministry which urged the council to use locally made products, the DPRD repealed the procurement plan.
The drama continues however. Upset that the procurement is halted, CV Adhi Prima Sentosa which won the tender to provide the clothes is planning to sue the DPRD over the decision.
Nigerian Diplomat Assaulted
Indonesia has apologized to Nigeria and pledged an investigation after footage circulated on social media showing Indonesian immigration officials pressing the head of a Nigerian diplomat against the back seat of a vehicle.
“The (Indonesian) Foreign Affairs Ministry regretted the August 7 incident,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Teuku Faizasyah told a press conference on Thursday. “This incident is an isolated incident which does not reflect the Indonesian government’s commitment to carry out its duties as a host according to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.”
The Jakarta Law and Human Rights Agency head Ibnu Chuldun claimed that the diplomat assaulted immigration officials first adding that one official suffered bruises and split lip. The officials were conducting a raid on an apartment looking for overstayers and violators. When officials asked the Nigerian man for his documents, the man refused to cooperate.
The Agency claimed that officials and the diplomat “made peace” and even circulated this photo of both sides shaking hands.
So that’s it then.
“Not so fast Ferguso”, said Nigeria. The fact that the diplomat and the arresting officials shook hands means nothing. They recalled the Nigerian ambassador to Indonesia as well as the diplomat. They also summoned the Indonesian ambassador to Nigeria for clarification during which the ambassador explained the immigration’s version of events to Nigerian officials.
The news has caused an uproar in Nigeria and on Thursday, Nigeria is still calling for immigiration officials to be punished. Nigeria is also threatening to review the two countries’ bilateral relations which is bad for us because Nigeria is Indonesia’s second biggest trade partner in the continent after South Africa.
Protests Through Street Art
A number of controversial wall art were taken down recently for their critical messaging. One in Bangil, East Java depicted two sinister looking cats with the words, “Forced to be healthy in a sick country”, another in Tangerang, Banten was a text that said, “God, I’m hungry”, and the one causing the most distress to hardline supporters of the President was also in Tangerang that featured a man who clearly looked like the President but with a red block of paint over his eyes with the words, “404: Not found”.
Shortly after the graffiti went viral, they were taken down by the local authorities but the impact had been felt. Millions of netizens across the country had seen them and each of those art made their way to the news, amplifying their message of desperation and frustration.
Two of the people behind the “hungry” graffiti had a visit from the police which left one of them in distress. The man claimed that there were 15 people involved in its creation in late July and the police visit after it was taken down had left him in shock because he claimed it was a plea to God, more than anything else.
Police are still looking for the person or people responsible for the 404 art as they have yet to identify who they may be. The entire wall art was later painted over in black (oooh, fresh canvas). There were claims that the painting undermined the President and the country and violated the law on government symbols but former Chief Judge of the Constitutional Court Jimmy Ashhidiqqie said that the President or his likeness are not government symbols. In the Constitution the government symbol is the Garuda Bird with the motto Bhinneka Tunggal Ika.
Two prominent Indonesian street artists, Darbotz, and Tutu, hit back at the comments made by State Secretary Special Staff Faldo Maldini who said that if you’re hungry you don’t buy paint, you buy food.
Quick Reads
Vaccination required to enter malls
Level 4 PPKM means malls and shopping centers are closed except for access to supermarkets and pharmacies but dozens of malls in Bandung, Jakarta, Semarang, and Surabaya have been permitted to reopen provided they limit visitors to just 25% capacity and they all must have been fully vaccinated. Otherwise they will have to present negative antigen or PCR test results before being allowed to enter.
Jokowi and Puan told to meet the people more often
PDIP leader Megawati Soekarnoputri told the President and the Speaker of the DPR to literally get closer to the people they govern. Jokowi was known to be a leader who went out to meet people regularly on the streets, markets, and sometimes their homes while he was the Mayor of Solo and later Governor of Jakarta. But not so much since he became President. Megawati also said that she taught Puan Maharani how to shake hands with the people. Spoken like a mother.
Would you call the President, Bung Jokowi?
Bung, as a term of endearment, stopped becoming popular with the fall of President Soekarno, who previously insisted on people calling him Bung Karno to eliminate the distance between the common people and leaders. PDIP leader Megawati, his daughter, casually would like to see it return. But will it work? Would people use it these days? Signs say unlikely.