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Puan not shirking haze responsibilities: health minister
Health Minister Nila F
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Health Minister Nila F. Moeloek.(tribunnews.com) (tribunnews.com)
Health Minister Nila F. Moeloek. (tribunnews.com)
Health Minister Nila F. Moeloek has defended the absence of Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister Puan Maharani from the scene of the haze crisis, in response to environmental activists slamming her efforts.
Nila admitted that Puan had not visited haze-affected areas but said that that was due to technical issues.
"It does not mean she is not working just because she has not gone to the scene. We from the specific related ministries have gone to see the situation first hand," Nila told kompas.com on Tuesday.
Nila recently joined a government visit to Palembang and Jambi led by Coordinating Legal and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan. Also on the trip were: Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya, House speaker Setya Novanto, Army (TNI) chief Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo, National Police chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti and National Disaster Mitigation Agency chief Willem Rampangilei.
Puan joined President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo on his trip to the US on Saturday and is scheduled to return home with the President.
Nila said Puan had maintained contact with the ministries under her coordination.
"Communication has been via limited meetings of the Coordinating Ministry and also over the phone. She just called me earlier," she said.
Nila said that she believed Puan would join Jokowi flying directly to Palembang from the US.
"Insha Allah [God willing], I believe she will come with the President," she added.
Previously, the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) slammed Puan's performance in responding to the haze crisis. Abednego Tarigan, executive director of Walhi, questioned Puan's limited role in the crisis that has left millions of Indonesians breathing in toxic smoke.
Puan's ministry coordinates the ministries of religious affairs; education and culture; research, technology and higher education; health; social affairs; villages, disadvantaged regions and transmigration; women's empowerment and child protection; and youth and sports. (rin)(+)
