Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia during Inspection of COVID-19 Vaccination for Senior Citizens and Children, in Bintan Regency, Riau Islands Province, January 25, 2022
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
It is a pleasure for me to be here in the Riau Islands province today, in Bintan regency to be exact. And, I see that vaccination program is not only held here, be it the second or the third vaccination, but also in Lingga regency, Karimun regency, Batam regency, Natuna regency, Anambas Island regency, and Tanjung Pinang city.
We hope that the booster vaccination and also the second one will prevent us from the infection of COVID-19, the Delta variant, and the Omicron variant. I am very pleased and very proud that the vaccination rate in Riau Islands province is very high, and we hope that all the people will be protected after the vaccination.
That concludes my remarks on this auspicious occasion.
Next, just two regencies. I would like to hear from Natuna regency, and then followed by Karimun regency. The floor is yours.
Dialogue between President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo and Regional Heads in Riau Islands Province (Held in an Online Session)
Regent of Natuna (Wan Siswandi)
All right. Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.
Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.
Good afternoon Bapak President, Bapak Governor, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for the opportunity.
We are from Natuna regency and would like to report that, indeed, the vaccination held today is for 1,000 participants. Furthermore, the vaccination is held in all districts in the islands, there are 15 districts, Pak. So, all the districts have vaccination held at the same time, and we also have Zoom meeting with the heads of the districts.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
So, how many percentages (of the vaccination rate)?
Regent of Natuna (Wan Siswandi)
We would like to report that the elderly residents who got the first dose have reached 77.10 percent, and those who got the second dose have reached 60.27 percent. Then, the 18 years old residents and above who got the first dose have reached 90 percent, Pak.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Ninety percent is good.
Regent of Natuna (Wan Siswandi)
Additionally, the 18 years old residents who got the second dose have reached 74.95 percent. Then, the residents aged 6 to 11 years who got the second dose have reached 11.23 percent, Pak, because it has just started yesterday, Pak.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
All right.
Regent of Natuna (Wan Siswandi)
Furthermore, the residents aged 12 to 17 years who got the first dose have reached 94.54 percent.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Very good.
Regent of Natuna (Wan Siswandi)
Then, the residents aged 12 to 17 years who got the second dose have reached 82.08 percent.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Very good.
Regent of Natuna (Wan Siswandi)
Then, the booster vaccination that is currently taking place, for your information, it has reached 3.28, excluding today’s participants, Pak.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Very good.
Regent of Natuna (Wan Siswandi)
That concludes our report to Bapak President. Thank you for the opportunity. You may please give us any feedback, Pak.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Thank you, Regent. So, despite the fact that the percentage rate is already high, I want personnel of the Military District Command and the Resort Police to accelerate the vaccination process to ensure all the people are protected from COVID-19. I really appreciate the high percentage of vaccination. Thank you, thank you, Regent. Thank you.
Regent of Natuna (Wan Siswandi)
Thank you, Pak President. We do this with the support of the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) and Indonesian Police (Polri), Pak, as well as the Attorney General’s Office. Thank you. Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
All right, the TNI, Polri, and the Attorney General’s Office take action.
From Karimun regency, you may have the floor.
Regent of Karimun (Aunur Rafiq)
Honorable Bapak President, greetings from the people of Karimun regency, may health be upon you. May Bapak President always be protected by Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala, God the Almighty, and blessed with strength to lead the nation, to create a healthy and growing Indonesia.
In Karimun regency, the residents aged 6 to 11 years who got the first dose have reached 87.16 percent, and those who got the second dose are currently at 23.57 percent. Meanwhile, the residents aged 12 to 17 years who got the first dose have reached 100.16 percent and those who got the second dose have reached 80 percent.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Oh, very good.
Regent of Karimun (Aunur Rafiq)
The residents aged 18 and above who got the first dose have reached 84 percent, and those who got the second dose have reached 67.97 percent and it is still going on.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
OK, very good.
Regent of Karimun (Aunur Rafiq)
Furthermore, the elderly residents who got the first dose have reached 67.80 percent, and those who got the second dose have reached 57.69 percent, and it is still going on. In Karimun regency, the vaccination is held in 12 districts, in 13 sites, there are 2,000 participants. Today, we are currently holding the second dose and booster vaccination, Pak President. The COVID-19, alhamdulillah, is under control, and in-person learning at school has been carried out well in the last few months.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
OK, very good.
Regent of Karimun (Aunur Rafiq)
Bapak President. Best regards from the people of Karimun regency who wish Bapak President could visit Karimun regency. Karimun regency is at the forefront, outermost, and border [of Indonesia], same as Bintan regency and Batam city.
Also, we would like to report that we have an investment zone, a trade zone, and a free port where the value of investment, until today, have reached the amount of Rp40 trillion. In 2021, the investment made was amounting to Rp16 trillion of foreign investment and Rp600 billion of domestic investment. Meanwhile, the investment made for Free Trade Zone is still one third of that. We have sent a letter to the Coordinating Minister, encouraged by the Governor, to gain support to extend the Free Trade Zone, because it is going to promote the economic growth of Karimun regency.
Secondly, Pak President, the people of Karimun regency are wishing the airport construction to be completed. We already have 1,600-meter runway, but it is supposed to be 2,400 meters, because Karimun is one of tourist destinations besides Batam and Bintan. Karimun is also a tourist destination for the people from Singapore and Malaysia.
Hopefully, your visit will bring happiness to the people. Once again, we would like to invite Bapak President to visit and boost the economic growth in Karimun regency. That is all, honorable Pak President.
Healthy Indonesia, growing Indonesia.
Regards from the people of Karimun regency.
Kindly please give us any feedback, Bapak President.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
All right, thank you, Regent. I really appreciate what has been done. I will try to manage time to visit Karimun one day, insya Allah. I will try to manage, insya Allah.
Regent of Karimun (Aunur Rafiq)
Alhamdulillah, thank you Pak President. The personnel of TNI, Polri, and the Attorney General’s Office are very solid here, Pak President. The achievement of the vaccination program here is due to the support of all elements including the TNI, Polri, and the Attorney General’s Office, Pak President.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Thank you, Regent. Thank you.
Thank you, all. I really appreciate the acceleration of vaccination in all regencies and cities in Riau Islands province, and wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh. Thank you.
(AW/MUR)