Police Chief's Message to Ranks: Anticipate Disasters and Ensure Tourist Safety

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo has instructed all his ranks to increase readiness in anticipating potential disasters during the 2026 Eid holiday. “I message all ranks that have the potential for disasters to ensure that all Disaster Task Forces at integrated posts prepare themselves as best as possible,” said the Police Chief in his statement on Friday (20/3/2026). This was conveyed by Sigit while monitoring the security of the takbiran night at the Integrated Post in Merdeka Field, Medan Police Headquarters, North Sumatra, on Friday night. He stressed that readiness is needed especially in disaster-prone areas such as floods and landslides, especially with the potential for extreme weather forecasted by the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG). “And alhamdulillah, this has also succeeded in reducing the potential for extreme rain, although in the coming days this will also be homework that we must anticipate,” he said. In addition to disaster potential, Sigit also reminded the importance of security at tourist locations expected to be crowded with visitors during the Eid holiday. He specifically highlighted water tourism so that managers truly pay attention to safety aspects, including visitor capacity limits and availability of safety equipment. “Please ensure thoroughly the safety of the public who will carry out tourism activities, especially in water tourism to ensure that capacity does not exceed the prepared capacity,” he stated. “And rescue equipment must also be adjusted to the number of passengers entering, so that if unwanted things happen, the safety of the public using tourism, especially water tourism, can truly be addressed,” he added. He asked mudik travellers to utilise rest area facilities and integrated posts for resting, and not to force themselves to avoid accident risks. “Don’t rush to arrive quickly but then endanger your own safety or the safety of other road users,” he said.