Finally, the Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian apologized.

JAKARTA - Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian said the central government heard all the complaints of disaster victims in Sumatra, including the action of raising the white flag in Aceh.

"We hear, the government hears, understands various criticisms, inputs, and public attitudes," said Tito at a press conference held at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base, East Jakarta, Friday, December 19.

Tito said that so far the government has tried to provide the best treatment for disaster victims in North Sumatra, West Sumatra and Aceh.

From disaster mitigation efforts, evacuation to distribution of logistics have been carried out to the maximum by the government.

However, Tito realized that there were still many shortcomings in the government's performance. Therefore, he apologized to the public if the government's assistance efforts were not satisfactory.

"With all humility, we apologize if there are shortcomings. Indeed, the obstacles faced are quite large because the terrain is quite heavy," said Tito.

"However, as the Indonesian government, we are obliged to continue to work to overcome various obstacles, improve performance, and immediately meet the emergency needs of our brothers in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra," added Tito.

Previously, Aceh Governor Muzakir Manaf or Mualem interpreted the phenomenon of raising white flags in a number of areas after the flood and landslide disasters in Aceh as a form of solidarity to be helped.

"If the white flag, if we interpret it all to enter, in my eyes, it is as a sense of solidarity, sympathy, and a desire to be helped. Like that," said Aceh Governor Mualem in North Aceh, Thursday (18/12).

Mualem made the statement to the media on the sidelines of receiving assistance from the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan)/Bapanas at the Krueng Geukueh Port, North Aceh.

In recent days, many Acehnese people have raised white flags, especially in areas affected by flash floods and landslides, such as Aceh Tamiang, Bireuen, North Aceh, Pidie Jaya, to the provincial capital, Banda Aceh.

Mualem said that the act of raising the white flag was to get the attention of the public both at home and abroad, nothing more.

"Where we are going, it is clear that the white flag can be like there is for the attention of others, both at home and abroad. I think no more than that. Not to surrender," said the Aceh Governor.

He emphasized that the province and the central government continued to try to distribute (assistance), of course this is not as easy as turning the palm of the hand.

"As I said earlier, it's not as easy as turning your palm. Today it's flooded, tomorrow A, B, C, D are built, all the infrastructure can't be," said Mualem.

"Kita lihat sendiri, kita bukan duduk diam semuanya, juga pemerintah pusat bukan duduk diam, mengusahakan juga. Kita paham-paham lah, ngerti lah," sambungnya.