Learn From The Kanjuruhan Tragedy, How Is The Stadium Infrastructure In This Country An Emergency Mitigation Friendly?

Arema FC supporters entered the field after the team they supported lost to Persebaya in the BRI Liga 1 soccer match at the Kanjuruhan Stadium, Malang. (ANTARA PHOTO/Ari Bowo Sucipto/pras.)

JAKARTA - Member of Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Okky Asokawati, expressed his deep condolences for the death of hundreds of Arema FC supporters in the tragedy of shooting tear gas that occurred at the Kanjuruhan Stadium, Malang, East Java. According to him, the tragedy must be an important note in public infrastructure designs such as sports stadiums. It is known, hundreds of supporters died allegedly from being stepped on and short of breath after panic looking for a exit when police officers sprayed tear gas.

The chairman of the NasDem Party's DPP Development and Infrastructure Division assessed that audits and implementation of standard operational procedures (SOPs) in public infrastructure such as sports stadiums are absolute to be carried out.

"We are deeply saddened by the tragedy at the Kanjuruhan Stadium, Malang. We must learn an important lesson from this tragedy so that it doesn't happen again in the future," said Okky Asokawati in Jakarta, Monday, October 3.

The DKI Jakarta legislator said that the number of fatalities in the incident must also be seen in terms of compatible infrastructure design. In particular, in mitigating emergency events such as what happened at the Kanjuruhan stadium, Malang.

"There is one thing that needs to be a joint evaluation material regarding our public infrastructure design, including stadiums that are compatible with mitigation processes in emergency situations," said Okky.

Okky explained that mitigation in responding to disasters is closely related to compatible infrastructure designs. Therefore, he said, the existence of infrastructure is one of the important points in the mitigation process.

"In Article 47 paragraph (2) letters b and c of Law No. 24 of 2007 concerning Disaster Management, the existence of spatial planning and arrangements regarding infrastructure development are one of the important things in the disaster mitigation process," explained Okky.

Learning from the tragedy that occurred at the Kanjuruhan stadium, Malang, Okky suggested that a public infrastructure audit should be carried out. Especially sports stadiums that are compatible in the mitigation process in dealing with emergency situations.

"It is better to audit all public facilities, especially sports stadiums that are compatible with the mitigation process in the face of extraordinary events," said Okky.