Minister of Transportation Dudy ensures that the rights of victims of the Mutiara Sentosa II KMP fire are fulfilled

JAKARTA - Minister of Transportation (Menhub) Dudy Purwagandhi ensures that the government will oversee the fulfillment of all the rights of victims and families of victims of the KMP Mutiara Sentosa II fire, including health services, assistance, and the settlement of compensation in accordance with applicable regulations.

Based on provisional data as of Monday, August 3 at 09.00 WIB, a total of 234 passengers have been evacuated.

Of these, 229 people were declared safe, while five people died.

"On behalf of the government and the Ministry of Transportation, I once again express my deepest condolences to the families of the victims who died. We pray that all the victims who are still undergoing treatment will recover soon," said Dudy in an official statement, Monday, August 3.

Dudy emphasized that the safety and protection of all passengers was the government's top priority.

Therefore, the Ministry of Transportation continues to coordinate with Basarnas, TNI, Polri, the Sumenep Regency Government, ship operators, hospitals, PT Jasa Raharja, Pelindo, and all related agencies so that the process of handling victims takes place quickly, comprehensively, and thoroughly.

According to Dudy, the government ensures that every passenger receives proper treatment, ranging from the evacuation process, health services, assistance to families, to the fulfillment of rights in accordance with applicable regulations.

In addition, the Ministry of Transportation oversees that operators and related parties fulfill all their obligations to passengers and victims in accordance with the provisions of laws and regulations.

This right includes the provision of accurate information to families, medical services and referrals for victims in need, ease of the victim identification process, facilitation of handling the victim's family, and settlement of the right to compensation and insurance protection in accordance with applicable regulations.

"We have instructed the Ministry of Transportation to continue to monitor the process of fulfilling the rights of victims and ensure optimal coordination between agencies. Do not let any victims or families have difficulty in obtaining services and their rights," he said.

Dudy said the Ministry of Transportation stated that the process of data collection of the victim's identity and matching the manifest was carried out carefully so that there would be no confusion in the delivery of information to the family.

All developments will be conveyed publicly based on data that have been verified with related agencies.

The Ministry of Transportation also asked the ship operators to be cooperative and responsible in providing support to the victims and their families during the handling process, including providing the necessary information, assisting the administrative process, and fulfilling obligations to the victims and their families.

Meanwhile, the search operation for the victim who has not been found is still being carried out by the joint SAR team.

The Ministry of Transportation continues to provide full support for this effort until all handling processes are completed.

On the other hand, Dudy said his party supports the investigation process carried out independently by the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) to find out the causes of the incident objectively.

The results of the investigation will later become the basis for a thorough evaluation of aspects of shipping safety, including operator compliance, operational procedures, standards of service to passengers, and strengthening of the supervision system.

"We are committed to ensuring that every learning from this incident becomes the basis for improving the national shipping safety system. The safety of the community is a priority that cannot be negotiated," said Dudy.

For information, the KMP Mutiara Sentosa II experienced a fire on Sunday, August 2, around 06.00 to 07.00 WIB in the North Waters of Sumenep, Java Sea.

Information regarding the incident was received at 08.30 WIB and was immediately followed up by the Directorate General of Maritime Affairs through the Kalianget SROP by broadcasting information about the ship accident and coordinating with Basarnas for the implementation of search and rescue operations.

At the same time, the Ministry of Transportation through the Directorate General of Maritime Affairs deployed the KPLP patrol ship KN Grantin P.211 to the location of the incident and prepared the KN Masalembo to support the handling operation.

The evacuation process was also strengthened with the involvement of ships around the location, namely TB Hasnur 26, KM Prakarsa Mas, KM Meratus Pematang Siantar, and KM Transco Arafura, so that rescue efforts could take place quickly and coordinated.