Having just arrived in Indonesia, Habib Rizieq Shihab (HRS) was already acting up by making a crowd during the pandemic. The community was furious and criticized the action because it clearly violated the PSBB period in DKI Jakarta and did not comply with physical distancing.
As one of the figures, he should set a good example with an orderly health protocol. Soekarno-Hatta Airport, especially in Terminal 3, was in an uproar when Rizieq Shihab arrived from Arabia, last November 10. The masses cheered him on and were willing to huddle together, just because they wanted to take a picture or see his face up close. HRS only grinned at the excited response and auto amnesia, that currently the Covid-19 and PSBB pandemic were still on.
Not satisfied with the reception at the airport, the crowd also attacked HRS’s house in the Petamburan area. After resting, a few days later Rizieq Shihab came to attend the Prophet’s birthday, even went to the Puncak area because he was invited to the inauguration activity. Of course in this moment there was another crowd who wanted to audition with him.
UI epidemiologist, Pandu Riono, was worried about the crowd that occurred when HRS was present. Because there could be a new corona cluster. He is very concerned because this crowd could increase the potential for Covid-19 transmission. In a sense, at this time the masses may feel healthy but will be affected 14 days later. If they get corona, who is to blame?
The masses are already blind in love and don’t care that corona is in front of their eyes. But they are desperate to let go of their homesickness with HRS after 3 years of not seeing each other. When there was this crowd, the community regretted the actions of the officers who were less decisive in driving the masses away and putting them in order. Even as if they were reluctant to fine or punish the masses.
Whereas HRS clearly violated the PSBB in DKI Jakarta and refused to quarantine for 14 days, and did not want a swab or rapid test. The potential for contracting the corona on the way to Indonesia is enormous. But the masses didn’t seem to care and continued to approach him. People became dizzy because they openly violated health protocols.
Health protocol violations also occurred again when HRS held a wedding ceremony for her daughter, Syarifah Najwa Shihab, on November 14th. Even though the marriage contract was conducted privately, the reception invited 10,000 people! This invitation includes extended families, FPI members and administrators, party administrators, and the governor of DKI Jakarta.
It is true that HRS is a public figure, but is he above the law so that he is allowed to violate physical distancing? Or the officers feel ashamed and like a toothless tiger, because Rzieq Shihab is a close person to the Governor of DKI Jakarta, Anies Baswedan? The people were tired because HRS had just arrived but immediately made a scene.
In fact, the officers ignored the event and had no intention of dismissing it. They are only trying to minimize the risk of corona transmission by distributing free masks to invited guests. Also increase the number of places to wash hands. Traffic engineering is also carried out around the wedding reception site.
There must be no such cult and privilege. Indeed, Rizieq Shihab has many supporters, but he seems always protected and gets away with breaking various health protocols. Society can be antipathy to a man who is known to be tough in speaking, for failing to set a good example to thousands of supporters.
The crowd at the event attended and organized by Rizieq Shihab made epidemiologists worried about the transmission of corona. The public also did not sympathize with HRS because they were desperate to hold a massive party in the midst of the pandemic. Even though we should still be concerned. Such a reception also has the potential to create a new corona cluster.
(The author is a contributor to the Indonesian Strategic Information Studies Institute (LSISI))
