Deputy Governor Jakarta Said To Anies: Alhamdulillah, The Shipment Has Arrived At The Garage

Officers assist the mobility of residents at the flood site in Cipinang Melayu, Makassar District, East Jakarta, Sunday, February 21. (Fianda Sjofjan Rassat / Antara)

JAKARTA - The former governor of DKI Jakarta during the era of Basuki Tjahja Purnama (Ahok), Djarot Saiful Hidayat, also highlighted the floods that occurred in Jakarta on Saturday, February 20, due to heavy rains that occurred the day before. Quoting DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan, he said he was grateful to receive floodwater sent to his house in the South Jakarta area.

He conveyed this after planting trees and sowing fish seeds in the Ring Reservoir, North Jakarta in order to carry out the Program for the Gerakan Penghijauan dan Bersih-bersih Daerah Aliran Sungai (DAS), Cinta Ciliwung Bersih, the second wave launched by the PDIP.

"Yesterday, thank God I got a shipment, it has entered the garage. We can't go anywhere because of the surrounding environment, everything is flooded. So thank you, I got a lot of shipments. There have been deliveries of buckets, pots, flowers, snakes yet", said Djarot, as quoted from a written statement, Sunday, February 21.

Furthermore, he also mentioned that Anies' work has not been seen even though he has served as governor since 2017.

"Pak Governor, Pak Anies, we must help because they work for the past three years is still not visible. PDI Perjuangan agreed to be able to actually help the people of DKI", he said.

The chairman of the DPP PDI Perjuangan then gave an example of the condition of the Cincin Reservoir in North Jakarta. He said the reservoir connected to the Ciliwung River was not well maintained.

In fact, he said there had been no dredging of the base of the reservoir since 2017. In fact, when he took office, this reservoir was often cleaned and maintained by the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government and even became a tourist location when he was in office.

"I was talking to people here, how many years have you not been dredged here? Three years have not been dredged, so it smells a bit strong sulfur", said Djarot.

Apart from that, he also highlighted the development of the watercourse of the Ciliwung River to the abandoned West Flood Canal. He suspects this is what triggers flooding in South Jakarta at this time.

"Maybe the philosophy is wiser, just hold the water for a long time so that we can fish there to build the pond. This water should be channeled into the sea", he said sarcastically.

So, he reminded Anies that flooding is a natural disaster that can actually be predicted. Djarot then advised Governor Anies to work hard to fix Jakarta's current conditions.

"This requires regional heads to work extreme, to work hard to anticipate climate change. If the work is normal, it is difficult", he concluded.