Opening Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia at the Inauguration of Umbulan Drinking Water Supply System on Monday, 22 March 2021 in Pasuruan regency, East Java Province

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim,

Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,

Good afternoon,

May peace be upon us all.

Distinguished Ministers of the Indonesia Onward Cabinet, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing, Minister of Finance, Minister of Health, and Minister of State Secretary,

Distinguished Chairperson and Members of the House of Representatives,

Distinguished Governor of East Java, Vice Governor of East Java, and all Regents and Mayors here, Regent of Pasuruan, Mayor of Pasuruan, Mayor of Surabaya, Regent of Gresik, and Regent of Sidoarjo,

Distinguished religious leaders and public figures,

Ladies and Gentlemen.

Thank God, Umbulan drinking water supply system that has been constructed for a while is now ready and able to be used by the public, especially by the people in Pasuruan regency, Pasuruan city, Gresik regency, Sidoarjo regency, and Surabaya city whose regents and mayors are present today.

The water from this system is clean. It can be used directly without complicated processes. And the capacity is huge. It’s 4,000 liters per second. This is huge. I asked about it on the field. It operates at only 900. It means that there is still 80 percent to be done immediately, from the main pipes to household-connecting pipes. That is the major work.

Therefore, I have ordered regents and mayors whose regions will be served by the supply system to deliberate with the Governor, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing, and management of PT Meta Adhya Tirta Umbulan (as the project contractor). This is not an easy problem. Who does what, who is responsible for what. Thus, the project that was constructed with a budget of Rp2.056 trillion can be leveraged by the public. That is the important thing.

The big project has been completed. The main pipe construction has been finished, so households should not have any difficulty to use it because it is unclear who the responsible party is. Whether it is the municipal drinking water agency, regency drinking water agency, provincial drinking water agency, or Minister of Public Works and Public Housing. Do solve it immediately. There must be a meeting this week and the responsible party must be decided.

If it is not solved—based on my experience, my observation, there is a huge dam, the primary irrigation has been prepared, but there are no secondary and tertiary irrigation. Then how does the water get to the rice field? This is the same. If it is not solved—I come here to inspect. I ask you. Solve it immediately.

Therefore, what we have built with the Public Private Partnership (PPP) scheme can be finished immediately and bring great benefits to our people. We will continue to push for constructions with the PPP scheme, not only in Umbulan but also for other projects, so there is less burden on the State Budget. And for the management, the private sector is the one responsible.

That concludes my speech on this auspicious occasion. And by saying bismillahirrahmanirrahim, I hereby inaugurate Umbulan drinking water supply system in Pasuruan regency.

I thank you.

Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh. (DH/MEP)