Prabowo Responds to Anies' Demand for National Disaster, Says Situation Still Under Control

President Prabowo Subianto together with Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka chaired the plenary cabinet meeting which was attended by a number of ministers at the State Palace in Jakarta, Monday, December 15. 2025 (Tim Media President) 20

JAKARTA - Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto responded to the insistence of a number of parties that the floods and landslides that hit Aceh, North Sumatra (Sumut), and West Sumatra (Sumbar) be declared a national disaster emergency. The President emphasized that the central government is currently still able to handle the impact of disasters in the Sumatra region.

Prabowo made the statement when giving an introduction to the plenary Cabinet Meeting at the State Palace, Jakarta, Monday, December 15.

"There are those who shout that they want this to be declared a national disaster. We have deployed everything. This is three provinces out of 38 provinces, so the situation is under control. I continue to monitor," said Prabowo.

The President revealed that the government had deployed dozens of helicopters and dozens of planes to accelerate post-disaster handling and recovery. The apparatus in the field is also continuing to try to reach areas that are still isolated.

"Our pilots fly every day. This is something we need to be proud of. I, as the President of the Republic of Indonesia, am proud to see the apparatus at every level in the midst of the people," he said.

Prabowo emphasized that all elements of the government and the apparatus moved quickly with high initiative without having to wait for direct instructions from the President.

"Everyone deployed their abilities without asking too much for orders from me, taking the initiative," he said.

He also revealed that a number of heads of state had contacted him to offer humanitarian assistance. However, Prabowo emphasized that Indonesia was still able to handle the disaster in Sumatra independently.

"I say thank you for their attention, but Indonesia is able to overcome this," said Prabowo.

However, the insistence that the disaster in Sumatra be designated as a national disaster still emerges. Former DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan assessed that the designation of the national disaster status was important to accelerate and expand the state's support to affected communities.

"The determination of a national disaster is not about prestige, but about ensuring that all state instruments can move to the maximum and be coordinated," Anies said in his statement.

According to Anies, the scale of the impact of widespread floods and landslides across provinces and the extent of infrastructure damage and casualties is a strong reason for the central government to take this step.

"With the status of a national disaster, logistical support, budgets, and resources can be mobilized faster and evenly. This is important so that recovery runs more fairly and effectively," he said.

Meanwhile, President Prabowo emphasized that the government remained fully committed to rehabilitation and reconstruction. The government plans to form a special task force and immediately build temporary housing (huntara) and permanent housing (huntap) for affected residents.

"I have received a report from the Minister of Housing, that starting this Sunday we will start building around 2,000 houses. Even these houses can immediately become permanent residences," said Prabowo.

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The President also asked his staff not to make land issues a hindrance to housing development.

"There is no reason to look for land. Use state-owned land. If necessary, PTPN land or forest concessions, we use it all," he said.

Regarding the budget, Prabowo ensured that rehabilitation and reconstruction funds had been prepared in the state budget, one of which was from the results of state spending efficiency at the beginning of the administration.

"The money is there, because the government at the beginning of its term saved hundreds of trillion rupiah," concluded Prabowo.