Remember President Jokowi's Message To Handle Floods: No Sectoral Ego, Regional Ego

Jakarta flood illustration (Photo: Angga Nugraha / VOI)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo reminded his staff, both ministries or agencies and local governments to reduce disaster risk.

Especially for flood disasters, Jokowi wants integrated handling. For example in the Greater Jakarta area. The reduction of flood risk in the upstream area, namely Bogor and Banten, the central area such as Depok, and the downstream area, namely Jakarta, must be adjusted accordingly.

He said this when he chaired the opening of the 2021 National Disaster Management Coordination Meeting (Rakornas PB) at the State Palace, Central Jakarta.

"What is done in the upstream, what is done in the middle, what is done in the downstream is really seen. There should not be sectoral egos, there should be no regional egos," Jokowi said in a YouTube broadcast of BNPB Indonesia, Wednesday, 3 March.

According to Jokowi, all disaster management in the upstream, middle and downstream areas must be integrated. Everything complements each other and closes the existing weaknesses. In fact, Jokowi has prohibited each regional leader from relinquishing responsibility because he feels that it is not his duty.

"Nobody should feel that this is not his job, not mine, not my business. Be careful this is a disaster. It is different from normal things," he said.

Furthermore, the former Governor of DKI Jakarta revealed that the main key in reducing the risk of disasters hitting Indonesia lies in the aspects of prevention and mitigation.

"Don't be late, don't be late. This doesn't mean that we don't pay attention to other aspects of disaster management. It's not that. But we shouldn't just be reactive when a disaster occurs," said Jokowi.

Jokowi said that all his staff had to prepare themselves with anticipation that was really well planned and detailed. Therefore, national policies and regional policies must be in harmony.

"We don't want a new disaster, we hurry up, make a fuss, or even blame each other like that, it shouldn't happen," he said.