Puan Sentil Suharyanto: This Is A Real Disaster, Not A Social Media Sensation

Chairman of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, warned the Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), Lieutenant General Suharyanto, to be more careful in conveying information about flash floods and landslides that occurred in the northern region of Sumatra Island.

Puan reminded all state officials to expand empathy for victims affected by disasters in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra. He considered that the assumption that the disaster was only gripping on social media was very unwise in the midst of this worrying situation.

"Yes, at this time, it is better if we can empathize, don't give comments that shouldn't be given. Because the situation is a disaster everywhere, then a disaster does happen," said Puan at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Wednesday, December 3.

Instead of commenting before knowing the incident directly, Puan invited state officials to work hand in hand to send aid.

"So no matter how small what happens, of course there are victims who do experience things that are not wearing. So it is as best as possible what can be done as well as possible, we need to provide assistance," continued the former Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture.

Previously, Suharyanto revealed the reason why the floods and landslides that occurred in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra had not been designated as national disasters.

According to him, the tense conditions at the disaster site are only visible on social media, but this is not the case with the current conditions on the ground.

Suharyanto also said that so far the disasters in Indonesia that have been designated as national disasters are the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2004 Aceh Tsunami. He asked for a comparison between the two national disasters and several other disasters that had occurred.

Suharyanto's statement sparked public anger. The reason is, floods in Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra are indeed very severe, causing hundreds of people to die, and damage is everywhere.

After being widely discussed by the public, Suharyanto then apologized in the aftermath of his remarks which said that the floods and landslides were only gripping on social media. Suharyanto conveyed the apology after inspecting the disaster site in South Tapanuli and seeing directly the monitoring from the air by helicopter.

"I was surprised (surprised), I didn't think it was this big. I didn't think it was this big. I apologize, Mr. Regent. It doesn't mean we don't care," Suharyanto said at a press conference, Monday, December 1.

He also ensured that all efforts to handle post-flood floods were continuously carried out by the government, including the fulfillment of logistics.