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Govt reprimands regional leaders for repatriating Indonesians from China without consultation
Most of the returnees were students on local government-funded scholarships.
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Passengers from Riau Islands province arrive at Sri Junjungan Dumai Port in Dumai, Riau, on Feb. 9. (Antara/Aswaddy Hamid)
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everal regional administrations have repatriated Indonesians living in China because of the coronavirus outbreak without coordinating with the central government, a top official has said.
“As far as I know, there are four [regional administrations],” Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister Muhadjir Effendy said on Monday as quoted by kompas.com, but declined to name them.
He said most of the returnees were students on local government-funded scholarships.
The minister urged regional leaders not to repatriate citizens without coordinating with the central government.
“At least notify the central government through the Health Ministry or the National Disaster Mitigation Agency [BNPB] because emergencies are a part of the BNPB’s job,” he said.
The government has evacuated 236 Indonesians and two foreigners from Wuhan, China. They are currently under observation in a quarantine facility on Natuna Island, Riau Islands, where they must stay for 14 days to ensure they do not have the new coronavirus. (gis)
