DPR calls for stricter building safety standards after Sade fire
This incident must be a turning point for our collective evaluation.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Member of Commission V of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) Abdul Hadi has called on the government to tighten safety standards for cultural heritage buildings following a fire in the customary area of Sade Tourism Village, Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB).
“This incident must be a turning point for our collective evaluation. From a building safety perspective, we face a major challenge in preserving the authenticity of cultural heritage buildings, while at the same time we are obliged to improve their safety standards against the threat of fire. The original architecture and form must be maintained, but the safety systems must be modern,” said Abdul Hadi in Jakarta on Thursday.
He stressed that the Sade Village fire must serve as momentum to formulate a new perspective on building safety, particularly in traditional settlement areas that have distinctive architectural characteristics, materials and spatial layouts while also being vulnerable to disasters. He argued that cultural heritage preservation must not ignore safety and disaster mitigation aspects for both the community and tourists.
Furthermore, the legislator from Lombok Island emphasised the need for direct government intervention and arrangement of basic infrastructure in densely populated customary settlement areas. The traditional architecture and building forms of Sade, as the cultural identity of the Sasak people, must be preserved, while safety and protection systems need to be enhanced to remain in harmony with customary values.
Abdul Hadi also said that the urgency of improving building safety is not only evident in customary areas. He referred to the results of an audit by the Ministry of Public Works of 80 Islamic boarding schools in nine provinces in 2025. Of the 1,634 building masses examined, only 5.7 percent met structural reliability standards, and 8.7 percent met architectural standards from the aspect of safety and evacuation. Meanwhile, for safety against lightning and electrical hazards, only 0.3 percent met the standards.
He added that the government already has a regulatory framework governing building safety aspects. Government Regulation Number 16 of 2021 has set out building safety requirements against fire and electrical hazards, including fire protection systems and rescue facilities.
Therefore, Abdul Hadi urged the Ministry of Public Works to conduct a comprehensive assessment and technical assistance before the reconstruction of Sade Village is carried out. The inspection, according to him, needs to cover the condition and reliability of buildings, electrical installations, layout and distance between houses, access for fire engines, availability of water sources, hydrant networks, detection and alarm systems, light fire extinguishers (APAR), and evacuation routes.