Ilham Oktafian, Jakarta – A parliamentary commission is drafting a proposal to establish a new disaster management ministry, aiming to address coordination failures exposed by recent floods and landslides across Sumatra, a legislator said on Friday.
Under the proposal, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) would be elevated to a full ministry, according to M. Husni, a lawmaker from President Prabowo Subianto's Gerindra Party.
The initiative follows an evaluation of post-disaster responses to floods and landslides in Sumatra, which revealed persistent problems, particularly weak coordination among government agencies.
Husni said poor inter-ministerial coordination had delayed aid distribution and reduced its effectiveness, with some assistance failing to reach intended recipients.
"Aid may be sent, but has it actually reached the people who need it? The answer is not yet," Husni said. "Even with the military and police involved, if coordination does not work, each institution ends up moving on its own."
The proposal is being prepared by Commission VIII of Indonesia's House of Representatives, which oversees social affairs, religious issues, women's empowerment, and child protection.
According to Husni, a core challenge in post-disaster management is the absence of a unified command structure integrating the roles of multiple ministries and agencies. Despite carrying major responsibilities, BNPB remains a non-ministerial body, limiting its authority to coordinate across government.
Upgrading the agency to ministerial status, he said, would strengthen command functions and clarify coordination in responding to national disasters.
Husni added that lawmakers hope the proposal can be included in Indonesia's national legislative program in 2026, allowing for faster deliberation and implementation.