By : Anindira Putri Maheswani )*
The Asean Summit which will be held in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) of course requires careful preparation, considering that this event is a prestigious agenda which will be attended by delegates from various Southeast Asian countries.
RI President Ir. Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has visited the venue for the 42nd Asean Summit in Labuan Bajo. President Jokowi arrived in Labuan Bajo on April 22 2023, and toured to check the readiness of the event location in detail.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Menlu) Retno Marsudi said that all venue preparations were appropriate. The hope is that the KKT event can run safely and smoothly.
Retno also said that in brief, all preparations, both substance and non-substance, had been checked in detail by the president. He admitted that all the preparations were on the right track . So Bismillah, I hope that the big celebration as Chair of ASEAN with the holding of the 42nd ASEAN Summit can run smoothly.
He also revealed that President Jokowi had checked the hotel preparations for the delegation guests and wanted guest service and comfort to be the main thing.
In addition, he also reported that Komodo International Airport was ready to receive ASEAN leaders. One of them is by adding international routes at the airport. From the transportation side, there were 115 traffic electric vehicles consisting of 34 cars and 80 motorcycles arriving in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, NTT.
Hundreds of electric vehicles sent by Kakorlantas Polri will be used to escort and secure heads of state, as well as delegates to the Asean Summit in Labuan Bajo which will be held on May 9-11.
Kabid Humas Polda NTT Kombes Pol Ariasandy said, the electric vehicle that had arrived would be used by traffic members to carry out patrols, as well as escort all high-ranking state officials, as well as the delegates who were present.
Meanwhile, West Manggarai Police Chief AKBP Ari Satmoko explained, the government had prepared Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (SPKLU) at a number of points in Labuan Bajo, to be precise near the Asean Summit area.
The use of electric vehicles during the Asean Summit was carried out to save energy and be environmentally friendly. One of the benefits of electric vehicles is to reduce carbon emissions.
The Minister of Transportation (Menhub) Budi Karya Sumadi also conducted a review of Komodo Airport which will be the landing site for delegations and official teams, both from Indonesia and from member countries and Asean partner countries.
Budi said, his party wanted to ensure that the support from the transportation sector could run well so that it would participate in the successful holding of the Asean Summit where Indonesia was still entrusted as chairman of the meeting like last year’s G20 international event. He explained that the facilities at Komodo Airport, both on the land and air sides, were ready to launch VVIP and commercial flights.
The Ministry of Transportation through the Directorate General of Civil Aviation has also anticipated by preparing alternative airports closest to Komodo Airport as a place to park the delegates’ planes, namely I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport, Lombok Praya Airport, Sultan Hasanudin Airport and El Tari Airport.
A number of other supporting facilities have also been prepared, such as custom inspection facilities , immigration and quarantine (CIQ) and helipad facilities for medical evacuation.
Meanwhile, in the security sector, TNI Commander Admiral Yudo Margono was appointed as the person in charge of security at the Asean Summit. Regarding security at the VVIP location, Yudo emphasized that the location would receive protection from its members. This is in accordance with the law that VVIP security is the authority of the TNI.
His party admitted that they had prepared defense equipment and soldiers who would carry out security. Because it is located on the seafront, the TNI is also preparing KRI and collaborating with the Indonesian Air Force.
Apart from that, Yudo also admitted that he would visit directly to the location where the Asean Summit would be held. This will be carried out together with the National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo.
Previously the Commander of Korem 161/Wira Sakti Brigadier General Febriel Buyung Sikumbang appealed to the people in East Nusa Tenggara, especially in Labuan Bajo, to maintain the security situation ahead of the Asean Summit.
This was conveyed in connection with the security measures carried out by the Indonesian Army in Labuan Bajo ahead of the Asean Summit which is scheduled to be held in May and is expected to be attended by 1,500 delegates from various countries in Asean.
Febriel added that Labuan Bajo was appointed by President Jokowi as the host for the Asean Summit activities because it is part of the government’s efforts to make Labuan Bajo one of the premium tourist locations.
Preparations for the Asean Summit have shown progress that is getting brighter and more mature, this of course increases the sense of optimism that Indonesia deserves to be the host of the Asean Summit in 2023.
)* The author is a contributor to Persada Institute
