As a series of 58th Anniversary events, Universitas Brawijaya presents alumni through Universitas Brawijaya Alumni Gathering with the theme “Tough with Reputation to Build the Country”. Activities are packaged in the form of talk show from presenters that can add insight to alumni. The event was held online through the Zoom Meeting application and broadcasted live on YouTube UBTV and UBTV Channel 57 UHF Malang Raya, Saturday (09/01/2021).
Ir. Mohammad Zainal Fatah as Secretary General of the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR), presented as the first speaker. He gave an explanation of how the Ministry of PUPR carries out its duties as an agency driving development in Indonesia through Padat Kary (labor-intensive) Program.
“It seems that Padat Karya has become the public’s attention. Even, in the early January, we have reached almost 98% labor-intensive progress from what we had previously planned, ”explained Fatah starting his presentation.
Indonesia’s infrastructure is still far below from South Africa, even at ASEAN level, we are behind Thailand, Malaysia and Brunei. Globally, we are only at the level of 43% in the context of stock, while in the international realm the average has reached 70%. So that the Ministry of PUPR uses this data to ensure that infrastructure development continues, because infrastructure provides a multiplayers effect for the community.
Ir. Mohammad Zainal Fatah as Secretary General of the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR)
The PUPR Ministry is asked to work hard, move fast, and act appropriately. Seeing the pandemic situation, we know that this current crisis is not like previous crises. The pandemic has reduced people’s purchasing power. Therefore, the government must step in to ensure that the sharp decline in purchasing power is immediately prepared for safety nets.
He further explained that the Ministry of PUPR as the ministry that carries out policies nationally encourages the public to be actively involved in labor-intensive programs in order to earn income. The main targets of this program are areas where people work in cities. Then, because of the pandemic they return to their villages. They are not even a burden but become a potential resource to be able to provide public services, build the public infrastructure they need, as well as to have a new source of income. In addition, PUPR also puts pressure on how to transform activities that are usually carried out routinely using heavy equipment into labor-intensive work.
“During this pandemic, the PUPR ministry stated that no infrastructure development has been stopped, once we stop it, we must return to find a new fulcrum to start development in the following periods. Because the source of work in the field also stops and the circulation of money at the project site will definitely be affected. Once again, we will stand firmly and make adjustments, not stop them, “said the alumni of FTP UB.
Chairman of PB IDI Dr. Daeng M. Faqih, S.H., M.H
The second material presented by Dr. Daeng M. Faqih, S.H., M.H Chairman of PB IDI. He said, during the pandemic there were two fundamental issues that the Indonesian government had to fix and evaluate. First, the most fundamental thing is about our health resilience. It is very clear that Indonesia is experiencing difficulties in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic. Resilience in the field of health service infrastructure, facility infrastructure, equipment availability infrastructure, logistics, and medicine, ability to handle emergency conditions, company laboratory capabilities, and the ability to perform tracing really need to be increased and improved.
“Increasing the capacity of health services in Indonesia must be based or placed on the framework of the Global Health Security Agenda from WHO. If not, if a pandemic like this occurs, we can stutter again because our resilience is not maximally and sustainably formed. That is where it is very important that resilience in the field of health infrastructure is encouraged and becomes part of the agenda for improving infrastructure nationally, “added Daeng.
Second, the very fundamental thing is independence. Independence in Indonesia’s health sector is very weak. Many problems that arise in meeting health needs and supporting health services are not sufficiently independent. Dependence of raw materials for drugs and digital equipment abroad is almost 100%.
Daeng also advised UB alumni to always innovate, raise or transmit new ideas, and improve acceleration and form alumni networks so that UB can continue to exist and perform better.
“We must push the speed of innovation and ideas, then we fix them well, and the acceleration is fixed. I think UB’s existence will get better. In terms of health, during Covid-19, hopefully there will be a slice for other sectors of the economy and infrastructure, “he concluded.
The activity, which is also a donation collection event, was enlivened by a virtual concert of UB Home Band, UB Choir, UB Unitantri, and inviting Pongki Barata as the main guest star. [Vika / Humas UB/ Trans. Iir]
