Bobby Nasution's Statement about Floods in Medan Was Responded with Data by the Akhyar Team

Akhyar Nasution (kanan) bersama Salman Alfarisi (Antara Foto)

JAKARTA - Political tension has risen again after two prospective Medan mayor candidates have registered their candidacy at the KPU. The candidates talked to each other about their superior program plans. They also threw insinuations to each other.

Recently, Bobby Nasution threw a satire statement about the performance of Pemko Medan. President Jokowi's son-in-law questioned the condition of damaged roads as well as floods that still occur in Medan.

"(Regarding) the program, we have seen from yesterday. Our bureaucracy can be clean, transparent. Medan City already has IDR 30 trillion. But the road is still damaged and flooded,” said Bobby Nasution, Wednesday, September 9.

In a separate interview, Akhyar talked about floods. Through the Beautiful Medan program, Akhyar-Salman Alfarisi wants sustainable management to overcome floods in Medan.

"The entire Medan area will be of our concern. All areas which we have not handled will be handled. Our focus is on improving infrastructure to make Medan beautiful, reducing flood spots," said Akhyar.

Then what about Bobby's insinuation about flood-damaged roads? Deputy Chairman of the AMAN Winning Team (Akhyar-Salman), Suwandi Purba, admitted that flooding still occurs in several Medan areas during heavy rain. 

"The people in Medan already know that the flood spot or area has been much reduced and is receding quickly," said Suwandi to reporters, Thursday, September 10.

This condition occurred due to the massive drainage improvement project that was carried out in the 2016-2017 fiscal year. Drainage is widened and deepened so that it can accommodate rainwater discharge.

"The result is flooding when it rains completely. For example, in the past, Jalan Brigjen Katamso, Jalan Sisingamangaraja, Jalan Letda Sujono, Jalan Sutomo, Jalan Bahagia bypass, HM Jhoni, and others. The flood comes when it rains heavily. But now, there is no more, at most a few meters there is a puddle of water," said Suwandi.

About the damaged roads, Suwandi claims that the distribution has been much reduced.

"The damage has been tackled simultaneously in the 3 fiscal years 2016-2018," he said.

Some damaged roads are on Jalan Krakatau, Jalan Menteng, Jalan Ayahanda, Jalan Titi Kuning, Jalan Mandala bypass, and the road in Medan Johor. Now, those roads have been paved with concrete and widened. The point of damaged roads has greatly reduced," explained Suwandi

Because of this, Akhyar's team questioned Bobby Nasution about the ins and outs of Medan City. Suwandi emphasized that the Akhyar-Salman pair promised to carry out sustainable handling in Medan City.

"So, if Bobby focuses on damaged roads, yes, in fact, that shows he is not a native Medanese. If he originally lived in Medan, of course, he would say that there were still damaged roads and floods, but the point had decreased considerably," said Suwandi.