Mahfud MD's Strong Criticism: The Government Should Not Be Crazy With Investments But Its Own Citizens Become Victims

SUKABUMI - The vice presidential candidate who is also the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD reminded the government to act decisively and not crazy about investment.

Mahfud said this when responding to the case of a work accident due to a smelter in the industrial area of PT Indonesia Tsingshan Stainless Steel (ITSS), Morowali Regency, Central Sulawesi, Sunday (24/12).

"The government must be firm, don't be crazy about investment, but the citizens themselves are victims," said Mahfud in Sukabumi City, West Java, as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, December 27.

Mahfud also reminded that every investment and development in Indonesia must be for citizens.

"If the investment is large-scale, the citizens are not protected by their safety, that should not happen," said the former Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court.

Mahfud reminded the government to ensure the safety and security of its citizens, especially those who work in industrial areas.

"The government must be firm that those operating in the Republic of Indonesia must comply with the rules and must guarantee security. 'This has happened several times. If we want to enter, it is difficult with this rule, this reason, that, and so on," he said.

He said the government had stopped operations from the company that had a work accident.

"The government has stopped its operations. The PT operation has been stopped by the government, and it seems that it has been a bit closed all this time," said Mahfud.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian Industrial Estate Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP) which oversees the operation of PT ITSS confirmed that it is ready to make improvements following a work accident that occurred on Sunday (24/12).

Communications Director of PT IMIP Emilia Bassar in a video description received in Jakarta, Tuesday (26/12), said that currently an investigation is being carried out on the work safety and health system (K3) at the scene of the incident in the IMIP Industrial Estate.

"The company entrusts the deepening of the cause of the work accident at PT ITSS to the authorities, and guarantees the implementation of cooperation with the parties regarding the recommendations for handling the impact that arises in accordance with applicable legal procedures. We are ready to carry out all forms of improvement in accordance with applicable regulations," he said.

As of Wednesday (12/27) at 13.00 WIB, 19 people died, consisting of 11 Indonesian workers and eight foreign workers (TKA) from China. The dead have been dispatched to their respective homes.

Especially for foreign workers, PT IMIP has coordinated with the competent authorities in the departure of the victim's body to Makassar before being flown to China.