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Jakarta administration to cover riot victims' hospital bills: Praised by residents, criticized by netizens
The Jakarta administration's move to pay the hospital bills of postelection unrest victims was supported residents but criticized by netizens and city councillors.
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A protester throws a stone at the police during a riot near the Elections Supervisory Agency headquarters in Jakarta on May 22. (JP/Seto Wardhana)
T
he Jakarta administration's plan to cover the medical costs of the victims of postelection unrest in Central Jakarta and West Jakarta has not only received warm appreciation from the public but also criticism.
According to Governor Anies Baswedan, at least 737 people were injured and some were being treated in hospital. Eight people were reported dead in the incident after the outcome of last month’s election, which handed President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo a second term.
On Wednesday, the governor promised that the city administration would cover all healthcare costs, including for police and Indonesian Army (TNI) personnel.
Prior to leaving town for Tokyo last weekend, Anies had instructed all hospitals in the city to be ready to treat victims of clashes that could take place when supporters of presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto took to the streets and called for the annulment of the 2019 presidential election result.
The former education minister said the city was taking responsibility as the riots took place in Jakarta.
Abdul Rohim, a resident of Petamburan in West Jakarta, welcomed the governor’s move, saying that Anies had proven that he really cared for marginalized people.
“A governor must act like that. Helping victims without looking at their backgrounds is humanism. God asks us to do so,” he told The Jakarta Poston Friday.
