Observer: Rapid NTT earthquake response must become government standard

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Political observer Hendri Satrio has said the government’s rapid response in handling the impact of the 7.7 magnitude earthquake in East Nusa Tenggara on Saturday (15/8) should become the standard for government work.

“The government’s swift action in handling the NTT earthquake certainly deserves appreciation. But actually, this kind of response should indeed be the government’s standard,” Hendri said in a statement in Jakarta on Sunday.

According to him, the government demonstrated that coordination and the deployment of resources can be carried out quickly when facing emergency situations that require immediate action.

“This means the government can be fast. It can move directly, it can coordinate various elements when it is truly needed,” said the founder of the KedaiKOPI Survey Institute.

He cited the example of Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya monitoring the progress of earthquake handling as a form of central government attention to conditions on the ground.

“Teddy checked and ensured how the handling was progressing. This kind of thing seems simple, but in a disaster situation it really must be done,” he said.

“If the government can move quickly in conditions like this, that is good. The next step is to make this kind of speed a habit, not an exception,” he said.

He said that in disaster situations, response speed is an important factor because it is directly related to the safety and basic needs of affected communities.

However, Hendri reminded that a rapid response in the initial phase must be followed by consistency in handling, especially after public attention begins to wane.

“Usually what is also important is after the first few days. Do not be quick only when all eyes are watching. Community recovery must also be supervised until it is complete,” he said.

“Government communication will be much stronger if the public sees for themselves that the state is present. There is no need to say too much that the government is working if that work is already visible,” he said.

He added that consistency in rapid response could be a way for the government to build public trust through actions that are directly felt by the community.

“If this pattern of rapid movement can be consistent, the public will judge. The government does not need to be busy asking for praise,” he stressed.