Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia at the Inauguration of the Centralized Domestic Wastewater Management System of Sei Selayur, October 26, 2023

Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,

Good afternoon,

May peace be upon us,

Your Excellency Ambassador Penny Williams,

Minister of Public Works and Public Housing,

Chief of the Presidential Staff Bapak General Moeldoko,

Governor of South Sumatra Province and Chairperson of the Regional House of Representatives of South Sumatra Province,

Mayor of Palembang and Staff,

CEOs of Small and Medium Enterprises,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Over the past nine years, I have inaugurated many dams, airports, toll roads, seaports, landfills, and other infrastructures. However, this is the first time in nine years I inaugurate a centralized domestic wastewater management system. This wastewater management system is significant for improving public health and quality of the environment.

We all are aware that the Musi River is essential for people in South Sumatra province, particularly in Palembang city. We also know that the river is used for people to bathe and to support other household activities even though the river is already polluted with waste, endangering people’s health condition around the riverbank.

Therefore, the building of the centralized domestic wastewater management system is beneficial to reduce pollution on the Musi River that can harm public health and cause environmental degradation in Palembang city.

On that score, I welcome the operation of this wastewater management system built with a budget of Rp1.32 trillion. This is a collaboration among the Australian Government with a budget of Rp690 billion, the Central Government with a budget of Rp624 billion, and the Regional Government with a budget of Rp24 billion.

Hence, I would like to convey my gratitude to the Australian Government through Her Excellency Ambassador Penny Williams for providing assistance on this project, helping people to preserve environment and improving public health.

It is my fervent hope that this project – which has only reached 10 percent of Palembang’s population – can continue in the future to clean the river and make it more beautiful and the people living on the riverbank can have healthier and safer activities.

That concludes my remarks.

By saying bismillahirrahmanirrahim, today I hereby inaugurate the Centralized Domestic Wastewater Management System of Sei Selayur, Palembang city, South Sumatra province.

I thank you.

Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

(GA/EP)