TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto held a cabinet meeting at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Monday afternoon, December 15, 2025, addressing the disaster response in Sumatra. Prabowo conveyed instructions and warnings to his aides regarding the handling of the disaster in Sumatra. Here are some key points from the meeting:
1. Claims Situation of Disaster Response is Under Control
Prabowo mentioned several groups pushing for the declaration of a national disaster status for the disaster in Sumatra. He asserted that the government had already deployed assistance for the disaster response and claimed that the situation was under control.
"We have deployed aid, this involves three provinces out of 38 provinces. So, the situation is under control. I continue to monitor it," said Prabowo.
Prabowo plans to soon establish a body or task force for the rehabilitation and reconstruction after the Sumatra disaster. He also plans to quickly build temporary and permanent housing for the disaster-affected victims.
2. Officials Visiting Disaster Areas Should Not Just Take Photos
Prabowo urged officials and figures visiting the disaster areas in Sumatra not to just take photos. He does not want a 'disaster tourism' culture in the Sumatran disaster areas.
"I request that officials and figures should not come to the disaster areas just to take photos and be seen as present. Please, act otherwise. We do not want a culture of disaster tourism, " said Prabowo.
Prabowo noted a tendency to turn disaster areas into disaster tourism sites. Officials visiting should aim to help and address the problems.
"Here, we see a shortage of clean water, what are the actions? There is a shortage of fuel, still isolated, what are the actions to be taken? And so on," said Prabowo.
3. Criticizes Regent Leaving the Area During the Disaster
Prabowo criticized regents who left their areas when Sumatra was hit by the disaster. Prabowo did not mention who the regent was, and only stated that the regent was not loyal to the people.
"Except for maybe in some areas, there are regents who I think are less loyal to the people. In a critical situation, they leave the place with all kinds of reasons," Prabowo said.
Prabowo thanked all elements of the central and regional government who had helped in handling the disaster in Sumatra, acknowledging their hard work. "I am grateful to have brothers and sisters who have worked hard so that the people are grateful to me," he said.
4. Build 2,000 Houses for Sumatra Disaster Victims
Prabowo stated that the government would soon build temporary and permanent houses for the victims affected by the Sumatra disaster. He received a report from the Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR), Maruarar Sirait, who would build 2,000 houses starting from Sunday, December 21, next month,
"It is possible that these houses can immediately become permanent houses," said Prabowo.
Prabowo does not want any hindrance of land for the construction of the housing. He stated that the housing locations would use state land. "If necessary, state-owned plantation companies, if necessary, forest concessions, we will use them all," he said.
Prabowo mentioned that the state budget is available and has been prepared for the construction of the housing. He claimed that the budget was there due to the budget reduction policy at the beginning of his administration. "We have saved hundreds of trillions," he said.
5. Provinces Affected by the Disaster to Receive Rp20 Billion, Regencies/Cities Rp4 Billion
Prabowo allocated Rp20 billion to governors in areas affected by the Sumatra disaster. He also allocated Rp4 billion to regents and mayors in 52 regencies/cities affected by the disaster.
According to Prabowo, the budget is separate from the post-disaster recovery budget from the central government. "It is direct and has been received outside of the recovery budget," he said.
Prabowo stated that the government had deployed more than 50,000 military and police personnel to the disaster areas. The government also deployed more than 60 helicopters and a dozen aircraft. "A dozen aircraft fly every day. From Medan to the respective provinces, Halim to those provinces," he said.
6. Prabowo Receives Reports of Military and Police Leaders Supporting Smuggling
President Prabowo Subianto ordered the Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces and the Chief of Police to take firm action against members involved in or protecting illegal natural resource smuggling and various illegal activities detrimental to the state.
The President emphasized the importance of seriously managing national resources as there are still many leaks due to illegal logging, illegal mining, and smuggling. The Head of State mentioned that various efforts had been made to close these leaks, including deploying military and police forces, but legal violations continued to occur.
"There is too much smuggling, we have deployed the TNI (Indonesian Military)/Polri (Indonesian Police) forces, yet there are still parties who do not respect Indonesian law," said the President.
Prabowo stated that smuggling practices had caused significant economic losses to the country. One highlighted example is the ongoing tin smuggling in Bangka involving various parties.
Based on reports he received, President Prabowo revealed the involvement of several officials and elements of the military and police in smuggling and illegal activities.
"An example from Bangka, the long-running tin smuggling, I also received reports from law enforcement, from the TNI itself reporting the involvement of officials, as well as reports of police officers being involved, and several other agencies," said Prabowo.
7. Establishing a Post-Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Task Force for Sumatra
Prabowo Subianto will establish a body or task force for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the victims affected by the Sumatra disaster. "We have planned to soon establish a body or task force for rehabilitation and reconstruction," said Prabowo.
Hendrik Yaputra contributed to the writing of this article.
Read: Prabowo Says Disaster Response Reflects His Leadership, Responsibility
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