Puan says proposal to merge BMKG and the Geological Agency needs further study

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) Puan Maharani has said that President Prabowo Subianto’s proposal to merge the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) with the Geological Agency needs to be studied first.

She noted that the two institutions have different duties. According to her, any plan to merge the two bodies must genuinely deliver benefits to the public.

“So it is better to study it first, and the study must genuinely be beneficial,” said Puan after a plenary session at the parliamentary complex in Jakarta on Tuesday.

She said that if the government believes merging the two agencies would be more effective, the DPR would support it.

In addition, she had no objection to the President’s plan to increase budget allocations for these institutions, as long as they can provide benefits to the public.

“For us, it is fine (if the budget is increased). However, the benefits must be better than before,” said Puan.

Previously, President Prabowo Subianto had planned to merge BMKG with the Geological Agency, following a series of disasters that have struck the country recently. According to him, the government will discuss the matter further.

The President made the remarks while chairing a limited meeting with several ministries and agencies on Monday (8/9).