Gov’t Ready for Christmas, New Year Holidays: Security Coordinating Minister

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD delivers his statement after the 2019 cross-sectoral coordination meeting to prepare for “Lilin 2019” operation, in Jakarta, Friday (13/12). (Photo by: Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs PR)

Ahead of this year’s Christmas and New Year holidays, Indonesian Government has prepared various related aspects, such as security, infrastructure, defense, transportation, fuel availability, rest areas, and intelligence.

“We have prepared for everything so that the 2019 Christmas and 2020 New Year (holidays) will run safely and smoothly,” Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD told reporters after the 2019 cross-sectoral coordination meeting to prepare for annual operation, code-named Operasi Lilin 2019, in Jakarta, Friday (13/12).

The Government, Mahfud stated,  is aware and takes precautionary measures of vulnerability points in various places and sectors. He also urged the people to be participative of these measures by behaving in an orderly manner and taking care of each other.

“Cooperation between the Government and its people, of course, is needed to ensure mutual security in our country,” Mahfud stated.

The Coordinating Minister said that the Government has prepared for additional security beyond the vulnerable points. The Government, he added, also added more gas filling stations.

“There are mobile dispensers, temporary fuel tanks in various places so that the people do not have to go farther to fill their gas,” Mahfud stated.

Mahfud has also asked all related ministries/agencies to create synergy in order to secure the holidays, to be extra vigilant and anticipative, to ensure preparedness in the field through certain operation and traffic engineering, and to implement law enforcement against all forms of criminal acts that may disrupt Christmas and New Year celebrations in accordance with applicable legal provisions.

“On today’s meeting, we expect inputs from related ministries/agencies to minimize the increasing threat of vulnerability in light of the holidays, to ensure that religious worship is carried out in a tolerant, safe, and peaceful manner throughout the country, as a reflection of the harmony of religious life of the people of Indonesia,” Mahmud stated. (Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs PR/ES)

Translated by: Fairuzzamani Inayatillah
Reviewed by:  Muhardi
Proofread by:  Lulu Wuliarti