Dian Rahma Fika, Jakarta – The chair of the Regional Representative Council (DPD), Sultan Bachtiar Najamuddin, backs President Prabowo Subianto's decision to hold back from accepting foreign aid to address the floods and landslides in Sumatra. The senator believes the government could still rely on national resources and strength to combat the disasters in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.
Besides capabilities, Sultan said the government's decision aims to uphold the nation's dignity. "I still agree with Pak President that so long as this country is capable of managing these disasters, recovering from them quickly, our nation's dignity remains intact," he said when met at the parliament complex in Jakarta on Wednesday, December 10, 2025.
As a member of the Gerindra Party, he believes that the central government must have special considerations in its refusal to accept foreign aid. Therefore, despite needing assistance, the access may still be closed based on such considerations.
According to Sultan, the government's deliberations are sufficient to legitimize this decision, including the government's delay in declaring a national disaster status for the floods and landslides that have killed nearly a thousand people across three provinces.
As a senator with oversight functions to represent the people, Sultan said that ultimately, the decision lies with Prabowo. "We will wait and see whether foreign donations will be opened, whether the status will also be elevated," he said.
Sultan admitted that opening the access for foreign aid is not a necessity, as the more critical thing is a swift recovery. In addition, estimating the losses from the recent disasters is essential so they can be quickly addressed.
confirmed it has not yet opened channels for other countries to provide financial assistance for handling the extensive disaster in Sumatra. Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi stated that the government retains the capability to manage the full scope of the disaster in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.
"We feel that the government is still able to overcome all the problems we face," Prasetyo said at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base in Jakarta on Wednesday, December 3, 2025.
Prasetyo noted that while many countries have expressed concern and offered assistance, the government is adequately resourced. He cited sufficient national stocks of food and fuel.
To cope with the logistical challenges, the government is utilizing "ways that may not be normal," Prasetyo explained. "We are trying to perform aerial dropping because it is tailored to the conditions of the disaster in the field."
Prasetyo claimed that the ready-to-use budget allocation in the State Budget is sufficient to fund the current disaster management efforts, with Rp500 billion allocated for this year.
– Hendrik Yaputra contributed to the writing of this article.