Jakarta, Jan. 1 -- President Prabowo Subianto affirmed that the government provided adequate relief to northern Sumatra provinces affected by flooding and landslides, even without declaring a "national disaster" emergency status.

During a limited meeting on the development of 600 houses in Aceh Tamiang District, Aceh, on Thursday, the president explained that the government is capable of carrying out disaster operations in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.

"Some still question why we did not declare a national disaster status ... the disaster affected three provinces, and we have 35 others that remain safe," he said, as broadcast by the Presidential Secretariat's official YouTube.

"As the government can mitigate the disaster in th...