The Deputy Minister Of Home Affairs Calls The Regent Of South Aceh Umrah During The Disaster 'Fatal Error'

Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Bima Arya Sugiarto coordinated heavy equipment assistance and fire engines (damkar) to accelerate the post-disaster recovery process in Padang City, West Sumatra. ANTARA/HO-Kemendagri.

JAKARTA - Deputy Minister of Home Affairs (Wamendagri) Bima Arya Sugiarto emphasized that the steps taken by the Regent of South Aceh, Mirwan MS, who prefers to carry out Umrah worship with his wife in the midst of an emergency condition of flash floods and landslides that hit 11 sub-districts in his area were the fatal mistakes of a regional head.

"The president (already) firmly reminds all regional heads not to leave the arena, to stay in the field and the Minister of Home Affairs has reminded that during a meeting with the BMKG, this BMKG predicts the weather in November, December will not be good, directly the Minister of Home Affairs conveyed that to all Regional Heads," said Bima Arya at the DPR building, Senayan, Jakarta, Monday, December 8.

"Well, of course, if there are regional heads who are not at the location, it needs to be investigated," he continued.

Bima Arya said that currently the Regent of South Aceh is undergoing an examination by the Special Inspectorate Team of the Ministry of Home Affairs, and then it is decided what sanctions will be received by Mirwan.

"Our inspectorate immediately examined the Regent of South Aceh and Law number 23 of 2014, there was an obligation for regional heads to prohibit regional heads and what sanctions were imposed there, starting from sanctions in the form of warnings, warnings, temporary dismissals," explained Bima.

"It is even possible that the inspectorate can recommend for a permanent dismissal which was then submitted to the Supreme Court as such the doors. So let's wait for the results of the examination of the South Aceh Regent," continued the former Bogor Mayor.

Bima Arya emphasized that the Ministry of Home Affairs had reminded all regional heads not to repeat similar incidents. He emphasized that regional heads must obey the direction of the Minister of Home Affairs and the BMKG warning.

He also asked party leaders to supervise his cadres who are regional heads.

"Oh, that's it, so when the BMKG issued a warning, the Minister of Home Affairs had conveyed the directives. Then there was another circular, and then when there was an incident the Aceh Regent was reminded again by the Ministry of Home Affairs. So we constantly remind that and yes, the regional head should have arrested all of this and the party leaders of course also supervised the cadres," said the PAN politician.

When asked again about the steps taken by the Regent of South Aceh, Bima Arya emphasized that what was done was a fatal mistake. This is because the Ministry of Home Affairs has reminded many times so that regional heads do not leave the area when subject to disasters, plus BMKG information regarding the condition of the area.

"Yes (fatal)," he said.