President Jokowi Calls for Tough Punishment for Fake Vaccines Syndicate
President Jokowi joins an iftar with thousands of orphans and disabled people on Tuesday (28/6) at Bogor Presidential Palace.
President Joko Jokowi Widodo said that producing, distributing, and marketing fake vaccines is an extraordinary crime and the President calls for tough punishment for those involved in such crime.
The President made the statement during a iftar (fast-breaking) with thousands of orphans and the disabled at the Bogor Presidential Palace on Tuesday (28/6).
This is an extraordinary crime. If our children are not vaccinated, it will bring a long term bad effect for our human resources, the President said, adding that the practice has been committed for 12 years, thus it must be thoroughly investigated.
I also want that those involved in this crime who produce them, distribute them, market them, and others – will be given tough punishment to bring deterrent effects, the President added.
Although there are not detailed reports yet on which provinces/cities the fake vaccines are being circulated, President Jokowi said he has instructed Minister of Health Nila F. Moeloek and Chief of the Indonesian National Police General Badrodin Haiti to very seriously investigate this case.
We must not take this case lightly, the President said, adding that once he has received reports about the result of the investigation, he will then inform it to the people.
As previously reported, the National Polices Criminal Investigation Department have arrested 13 suspects, who reportedly include eight fake vaccine plant owners, two distributors, two couriers, and one label maker of counterfeit vaccines during raids in Bekasi, South Tangerang, Jakarta, Bogor, and Subang that took place between 16 June and 23 June.
Also joining the iftar were Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Puan Maharani, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, and Minister of Social Affairs Khofifah Indar Parawansa. (BPMI/UN/ES) (EP/YM/Naster)
