JAKARTA | INDONESIA - President Joko Widodo, Wednesday (15/4/2020), appointed Hanura Party politician Benny Ramdhani as Head of the Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency (BP2MI). The inauguration took place at the State Palace, Jakarta, by implementing physical distancing and only presenting 30 invited guests to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 corona virus. President Jokowi and other guests also wore masks.
The inauguration begins with the reading of Presidential Decree (Keppres) Number 72 / TPA of 2020 concerning the Ratification of Officials in the BP2MI Environment. After reading the Presidential Decree, President Jokowi then guides the oath of office.
"By Allah, I swear that I will be loyal and obedient to UDD 1945 and will carry out all laws and regulations in the best possible way for the sake of my devotion to the nation and state," said Benny in his oath of office. "In carrying out my duties, I will uphold job ethics, work as well as possible and with a full sense of responsibility. That I will maintain my integrity, not abuse my authority and avoid misconduct, "he said.
BP2MI is a replacement institution that was formerly known as the National Agency for the Placement and Protection of Indonesian Workers (BNP2TKI). As is known, BNP2TKI has been led, among others, by Nusron Wahid, Jumhur Hidayat, and Gatot Abdullah Mansyur.
Hanura Politician, Former Senator
Benny Rhamdani is a former member of the Regional Representative Council (DPD) RI for the 2014-2019 period from the Electoral District of North Sulawesi. He has a wealth of experience as an activist and politician.
He served as a member of the North Sulawesi DPRD for three terms from the PDI Perjuangan, 1999-2004, 2004-2009, 2009-2014, and various positions in the PDI-P Party of North Sulawesi: Chairman of the DPC Bolaang Mongondow Regency (1999-2004) and Deputy Chair. North Sulawesi (2005-2010).
Benny is also active in various organizational activities such as Deputy Secretary of the DPC GMNI Manado City (1993-1995), General Chairperson of PMII Manado Branch (1994-1996, 1996-1998), and Chairperson of the Regional Leadership of the Ansor Youth Movement (GP ANSOR) North Sulawesi (2004 -2010, 2011-2015).
In August 2018, Benny Rhamdani was appointed as Director of the Presidential Campaign and Vice President Jokowi-Ma'ruf Amin. Currently, he is still listed as Deputy Chairman for Organization, Cadre and Membership of the Hanura Party Central Leadership Council (DPP).
Focus on Returning PMI Affected by Corona
After being inaugurated by President Jokowi, Benny Rhamdani said that the institution he led wanted to focus on the process of returning Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) who were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic from abroad. "The most important thing is that the return of Indonesian Workers (TKI) has increased because it is related to the Corona virus outbreak in the countries where they are stationed," he said.
"In fact, the wave of returning workers is getting bigger before the fasting month and Eid. So that land, sea, airport (airport) and also border areas become our concern, "said Benny.
He wants to provide guarantees to migrant workers who have to return to Indonesia. "They will get special escort of course with standard health protocols, we will obey and we even want to ensure that they are not only guaranteed to be safe again at each border, the port, airport and border areas until they arrive at their hometowns. Once again, migrant workers are state VIPs, ”said Benny.
However, for the technical aspects of the return of these migrant workers, BP2MI will cooperate with the COVID-19 Task Force and local governments to carry out joint supervision. [DDHKNews / source: Kompas / Indonesian figures / Merdeka / Antara, photo: Kompas]
