Anies Is Called Governor Saleh Because Floods Always Come On Weekends, Do You Remember?

The Governor of DKI Jakarta, Anies Baswedan. (Photo: Twitter @aniesbaswedan)

JAKARTA - The video footage of the interview with the Head of Bamus Betawi Rahmat HS, calling the Governor of DKI Jakarta Anies Baswedan as a devout governor, is circulating on social media again. This is because large floods that inundated several areas in Jakarta occurred again at the weekend, namely Saturday, February 20.

In a talk show that aired on a television station on Sunday, February 23, 2020, Rahmat assessed that Jakarta residents should be grateful that floods occurred during holidays. He said, if Anies was not a pious governor, floods could have occurred during weekdays.

"We must be grateful, our big floods are always holidays. If it wasn't Anies, the governor, his prayer (flood, ed) would occur Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday," said Rahmat in the video.

According to him, flooding on holidays does not disturb many things, including public workdays and public services.

"If the holidays do not interfere with work, community services are not disturbed, Jakarta's foreign exchange usually goes to the top, everywhere, at home. Shopping at stalls. There is a silver lining," he said in the video which was spread over 24 seconds.

Previously reported, a number of areas in DKI Jakarta experienced flooding with varying heights on Saturday, February 20 due to heavy rains that occurred since last Friday, February 19. Responding to this, DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan said flooding in the capital, especially East Jakarta and South Jakarta, was due to extreme weather and high rainfall.

In a coordination meeting at the Manggarai Water Gate, he explained that the rainfall in Pasar Minggu reaches 226 mm per day, at Sunter Hulu 197 mm, at Halim Perdanakusuma it reaches 176 mm, Lebak bulus 154 mm.

"All numbers above 150 are extreme conditions. In the division of the scale, there is heavy rain up to 100 mm, then 100 mm-150 mm is very heavy and above 150 mm is extreme rain," said Anies at Pintu Air Manggarai, Central Jakarta, Saturday, February 20.

Unfortunately, said Anies, the drainage system in DKI is built with a rainfall capacity of between 50 and 100 millimeters per day. Drainage in the area is unable to accommodate water with high rainfall, resulting in water overflows to settlements.

"The capacity of the drainage system in Jakarta ranges from 50 to 100 mm. If it rains above 100 mm per day, then inundation will definitely occur because the capacity is limited to 100 mm," he said.

Therefore, Anies will prioritize handling residents who appear to be flooded. Starting from the preparation of evacuation places, to evacuating residents trapped in settlements.