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ore than 250,000 Jakartans were affected when major floods submerged Indonesia’s capital and paralyzed its business districts on Thursday. So far, 14 people have died from the flooding, according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).

State power firm PT PLN had to shut down over 1,000 power stations across the capital to avoid electrocution. Transjakarta bus services ceased operating on some of its corridors, while state railway company PT KAI had to limit its services as several stations were inundated by water from nearby rivers.

Thousands of employees failed to reach their offices while students went home early as some of their schools were also inundated. Roads to the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport were disrupted by high waters but many passengers still managed to catch their flights.

Businesses are calculating their possible losses caused either directly by flooding or by the impact of the extreme weather. These are not mere numbers or statistics.

The five-year cycle of major floods has hit Jakarta harder and inundated, for the first time in history, the Presidential Palace. Pictures of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa inspecting the palace grounds were quickly circulated on news portals and social media sites.

Floodwater also inundated Jakarta’s landmark Hotel Indonesia traffic circle, City Hall and the major thoroughfares of Jl. MH Thamrin and Jl. Rasuna Said.

The floods pushed back a bilateral meeting between Yudhoyono and Argentinean President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner for a few hours. But Japanese Prime Minister Sinzo Abe still managed to meet Yudhoyono on time on Friday despite the floodwater spread across the outskirts of the capital.

But the worst is yet to come. The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has predicted more heavy rain for Greater Jakarta in the coming days.

Yudhoyono and Jakarta Governor Joko “Jokowi” Widodo declared a state of emergency for Jakarta effective until Jan. 27, which is the estimated time for high tides.

This year’s flooding is Jokowi’s first big test since being sworn into office about 100 days ago. It is unfair, though, to blame Jokowi for the floods. Such a disaster has happened numerous times during the past decades. Cooperation from the administrations of Greater Jakarta, such as Tangerang, Bekasi and Bogor municipalities and regencies, is necessary.

Jokowi has said that Jakarta would need a breakthrough in dealing with the ongoing problems of flooding and traffic congestion. He has proposed to build a multi-function deep tunnel to channel floodwater into the sea. However, his short-term priorities should be dredging rivers and lowering the water level in the West Flood Canal to increase their capacity to accommodate rainwater.

For now, let us show our solidarity with fellow Jakartans by providing assistance to flood victims, as they are in dire need of shelters, food, clean water, clothing and health care.

Earlier this week, Indonesians were shocked to hear an insensitive comment made by a candidate justice about rape during his so-called fit-and-proper test before the House of Representatives’ Commission III on laws and human rights. Muhammad Daming Sunusi, a career judge from Banjarmasin, East Kalimantan, came under fire following his infamous remark: “Both the victims of rape and the rapist might have enjoyed their intercourse together, so we should think twice before handing down the death penalty.”

Although he publicly apologized about 24 hours later – in a tearful interview – the public was already outraged over his remark. They even demanded that Commission III not elect him as a justice at the Supreme Court.

Daming may represent some Indonesians who are still not aware that rape victims have to deal with physical, sexual and mental wounds sustained during such abuse. They may never realize that many victims have to cope with lifelong wounds. No wonder then that many rape cases are not reported due to the fear on the part of the victim that they may be stigmatized by society or be accused of provoking the rape to occur.

Despite a massive social media campaign to block Daming’s path to the Supreme Court, Indonesia needs to learn from India regarding putting public pressure on a government to curb violence against women, following massive protests after a female university student was gang-raped and subsequently died from severe internal injuries.

Indonesia has ratified the UN convention to prevent discrimination and violence against women. Too bad that in real life, abuses against women remain rampant and many are unreported.

Democratic Party lawmaker Roy Suryo was sworn in as youth and sports minister on Tuesday, replacing Andi Mallarangeng, who was named a suspect in a corruption case surrounding the construction of the Hambalang sports complex in Bogor, West Java.

Roy, an information technology (IT) expert, promised to prioritize the resolution of the prolonged conflict within the Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI) that involves two big names: oil tycoon Arifin Panigoro and businessman Nirwan Bakrie. However, he must bear in mind that sport comprises not only soccer. There are other sports — with better achievements than the country’s soccer team — that need the government’s equal, or greater, attention.

Indonesia — previously a regional champion until 1997 — will compete in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Myanmar in December and has to prepare its athletes for next year’s Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea. Achievements in a variety of events are more important than the ongoing bickering between two individuals that rule the roost at the PSSI.

— Primastuti Handayani