West Lombok DPRD Expresses Disappointment as Three Heads of Departments Fail to Attend Disaster Meeting

Three heads of departments within the West Lombok Regency government did not attend a joint meeting with Commission III of the West Lombok DPRD, which was held to discuss disaster management and infrastructure damage, on Thursday (26/2/2026).

The three departments in question are the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), the Environmental Agency (DLH), and the Public Works, Spatial Planning, Housing and Settlement Agency (PUPRKP).

Chairman of Commission III, Fauzi, stated that the purpose of the meeting was to discuss disaster management in West Lombok. According to him, the presence of policymakers or the heads of departments is essential to ensure concrete results from the meeting that can be implemented immediately.

However, Fauzi revealed that the three heads of departments instead sent representatives when summoned. He considered this attitude as a form of disrespect towards the legislative body, which is carrying out its supervisory function.

Fauzi further stated that this was the second time the head of the BPBD of West Lombok had been summoned. However, until now, the head of the BPBD of West Lombok has not appeared at the West Lombok DPRD building.

“As far as I remember, this is the second invitation for the head of the BPBD. The first invitation received no response at all and no explanation,” he said on Thursday (26/2/2026).

Fauzi was also disappointed that technical departments such as the DLH and DPUPRKP also failed to attend the meeting. According to him, there is much work to be done, such as repairing infrastructure damaged by disasters last year and a few days ago, which has not yet been completed.

According to him, synergy between the BPBD as the data provider and the DPUPRKP and DLH as the field executors is key to disaster management. Without the presence of the three heads of departments, the forum will lose direction in determining the appropriate points of coordination for handling the disaster.

Fauzi then criticised the performance priorities of the heads of departments, who he believes are more active when the meeting agenda concerns budget issues rather than humanitarian issues such as disaster management.

“Later, when we discuss the budget, they will be active in communicating with us. But what about disaster issues and so on? We want this discussion to be more than just a discussion, because this is a disaster issue,” said the politician from the National Awakening Party (PKB).

Now, Fauzi said that the meeting must be postponed due to the absence of the three heads of departments. Fauzi emphasised that this step was taken as a message to the executive branch to take partnership with the DPRD more seriously, especially on matters that concern the welfare of the people.

“We will postpone this meeting,” he said.