Member of Commission VIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Dini Rahmania, has asked the government to be prepared to face the potential for further disasters, particularly in the Aceh and West Sumatra regions, as well as a number of other areas that are also facing the threat of hydrometeorological disasters.
Based on the BMKG warning, he said, the potential for extreme weather and hydrometeorological phenomena such as heavy rain and tidal flooding in coastal areas is still possible, as was the warning issued in early December.
"Early warning systems must be strengthened, information must reach the public earlier, and preparedness education, especially in vulnerable villages, must be a priority," Dini said in Jakarta on Friday.
He emphasized that the public should not simply accept aid after casualties have occurred, but rather should be protected before a disaster strikes. Behind every figure, he said, are people who have lost their homes, livelihoods, and even loved ones.
"The government must be present with swift, tactical, and empathetic mitigation measures," he said.
Furthermore, he emphasized that the state must not discriminate between regions in disaster management. In the case of the Bali floods, the central and regional governments have distributed logistical aid, basic necessities, and compensation to the victims, including families who lost family members.
