BANDA ACEH — A recent statement by Aceh Governor, Muzakir Manaf, underscoring the urgency of dredging river mouths (locally known as kuala) to mitigate recurrent flooding has been met with a constructive response from Arizal Mahdi, Chairman of Relawan Peduli Rakyat Lintas Batas.
Arizal expressed his organisation’s readiness to facilitate the mobilisation of private sector investment to support the large-scale normalisation of silted river mouths across Aceh, positioning such efforts as part of broader flood mitigation and climate resilience strategies.
According to him, sedimentation at river mouths represents a structural challenge that requires a coordinated, multi-stakeholder approach involving government institutions, the private sector, and local communities—particularly in addressing financing constraints and accelerating implementation.
“We are prepared to act as a facilitator, opening channels of cooperation with investors who possess proven expertise in dredging and water infrastructure management,” he said.
He further noted that potential collaboration could be structured through legally compliant partnership frameworks, including Public–Private Partnership (PPP) schemes, as well as other transparent and accountable investment models aligned with national and regional regulations.
Arizal outlined that initial steps would prioritise the identification of high-risk locations, the consolidation of preliminary technical assessments, and early-stage engagement with prospective investment partners to ensure a phased, data-driven implementation strategy.
He emphasised, however, that all initiatives would remain firmly within the policy framework of the government and would be aligned with programmes currently being developed by both the Aceh Provincial Government and the central government.
In his view, the involvement of investors would not only accelerate efforts to address river mouth sedimentation but also generate wider socio-economic benefits for coastal communities, including job creation, improved livelihoods, and increased local economic activity.
He also underscored the critical importance of robust oversight, governance, and transparency at every stage of implementation to ensure effectiveness, safeguard public interest, and prevent potential risks.
The statement reflects a broader shift towards cross-sector collaboration in addressing Aceh’s flood management challenges, with investment-driven solutions increasingly seen as a key component of medium- to long-term sustainable infrastructure development.
