Govt building managers underestimate fire hazards
Govt building managers underestimate fire hazards
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The arson attack that badly damaged the sixth floor of the
finance ministry building and destroyed important documents
stored there seems to have had little impact on the managers of
government buildings with many still apparently reluctant to
improve data and information protection systems.
"We have not yet allocated funds (to improve the existing
systems). We'll have to think about it," said Rusmariyarso from
the Ministry of Industry and Trade's records and information
center.
Rusmiyarso admitted that all digital data meant for back-up
files was stored in fireproof cabinets, but all paper documents
were not.
Similarly, Aris Warisman of the House of Representatives and
People's Consultative Assembly (DPR/MPR) Building Installation
Management Bureau played down the importance of fireproof data
storage.
Aris said no special measures had been taken to protect the
documents.
"We already have sprinklers to protect our paper documents,"
he said.
Citing that most of the House and Assembly buildings were new,
Aris said the management relied upon the installed fire
protection system, and was confident that the fire equipment
would work in the event of a blaze.
"In addition, there are no confidential documents here as
everything is supposed to be open to the public," said Aris,
adding that the main tasks of the House and Assembly members was
to represent the people.
Meanwhile, Aris' colleague in the Management Maintenance
Bureau revealed that his bureau had allocated funds this year to
improve the fire protection system and fire equipment.
"But, the funds have not yet been disbursed," said Sartono.
Sartono acknowledged that building managers had received a
warning last year from the Jakarta Fire Department urging them to
regularly check their fire equipment.
Separately, Fire Chief Johnny Pangaribuan revealed that his
department had warned the managers of government buildings to
protect their data with proper fire protection systems.
"But, they continue to use budget constraints as an excuse to
avoid improving their fire protection systems and safety
equipment," said Johnny, taking the management of the House and
Assembly buildings as an example.
Johnny said there were nearly 200 state buildings that failed
to provide proper protection for data.
He said government buildings were the worst for fire
protection compared to buildings managed by private sector firms.
"Companies in the private sector have more money, relatively
speaking, to finance improvements than government departments,
which first must allocate the funds in their budgets," said
Johnny.
State documents, especially confidential ones, are among the
items that must be stored using special safety precautions, such
as in fireproof rooms or cabinets.