Indonesia’s Response to the Pandemic

Abstract

This chapter analyzes the Jokowi government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic and explains why it has not been capable of responding quickly to Covid-19. There were four main barriers: first, the unhealthy relationship between the Indonesian Medical Association and the recently appointed minister of health affairs; second, the political rivalry between Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s (known as Jokowi) administration and the current governor of Jakarta, the national capital of Indonesia; third, the incompetence of the Jokowi cabinet, where lack of leadership has been shown during the crisis; and finally, the conservative religious groups’ position, rejecting the request not to organize mass prayers. The combination of these four barriers contributed to the slow response and ineffectiveness of the government’s policies and regulations during the Covid-19 crisis. The response was too little, too late. The Jokowi administration was pushed into a corner, making unclear policies, uncoordinated responses, and conflicting statements.