JAKARTA - Chairman of Commission V DPR Lasarus said the government was slow in dealing with the Sumatra disaster. Lasarus also mentioned that state assistance worth IDR 4 billion per district is still far from sufficient.
"Indeed, if I say, we were in the first week it was a bit late to determine disaster status, this is if I see it. Maybe the government suspects that this is not as massive and this wide as the impact," said Lasarus at the DPR building, Senayan, Jakarta, Tuesday, December 9.
"The ideal emergency response should be in the first week, at least all access can be opened. It's been 2 weeks and 14 days, there was still yesterday, I don't know today's update, there are 6 districts that can't be accessed yet, they are still cut off. We haven't talked about the sub-district, haven't talked about the village. This is because of the delay in my opinion, "continued the PDIP legislator from the West Kalimantan electoral district.
Lasarus then highlighted government assistance worth IDR 4 billion per district, and IDR 20 billion per province. According to the head of the commission in charge of infrastructure, the budget assistance was too small.
"Then the second, I think the government must give strength to the regions today. Yesterday, the President received information to help Rp4 billion per district. Rp4 billion per district is nothing, if it's for the field," said Lasarus.
"Yes, right? We just made a big one, for the river, it could be Rp. 4 billion. Right? How many bridges have been broken, damaged roads, damaged houses. Then we all know the regional fiscal, DAK is cut, DAU is cut, I say what this is," he continued.
Therefore, he suggested that the government issue emergency funds or divert free nutritious food funds (MBG) that are not absorbed for assistance from victims of the Sumatran disaster.
"Well, if you want, where are the funds still available, so I said yesterday, I already issued the money in BI. Then maybe some in MBG are not absorbed until this date, for example there are still how many hundreds of billions left, for example MBG that have not been absorbed. Or how many trillions have not been absorbed, for example. Yes, all allocate them to disaster locations," said Lasarus.
Lasarus revealed that he received information from the Minister of Public Works for the recovery of Padang City that a budget of Rp. 13 trillion was needed.
"Rp13 trillion only for West Sumatra, not Aceh is more severe, you know. Aceh is worse than West Sumatra. Then also North Sumatra, it is also slightly different from Aceh. This must require a larger reconstruction," he said.
Therefore, Lasarus stated, Commission V of the DPR will immediately review the location on December 10.
"So that I have a feeling, what exactly should we mitigate from our side the DPR provides support to the government," he said.
Lasarus also encouraged the government to immediately issue emergency funds to help victims and deal with disasters in the three provinces in North Sumatra. He said that Commission V of the DPR had made it easier for policy makers to immediately issue emergency funds without the DPR's approval.
"Actually, from the side of the rules, we have given convenience because this is an emergency. Emergency and quick handling to the community, people who are in difficult conditions. So yesterday we didn't have to have a meeting, let's arrange there all the existing financial needs. We don't need our approval first, we don't need to ask us first. The important thing is that later the use of state finances is met. The issue of transparency, the accountability of state finances is sufficient. We just need to report because it is an emergency," he explained.
"Even if it's not enough, quickly remove BA99. We have our emergency funds in BA99. Yes, we will quickly remove them," concluded Lasarus.
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