Jakarta (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD said the government is concerned about the tragedy that left 127 people dead following the Arema FC and Persebaya match at the Kanjuruhan Stadium, Malang, East Java, on Saturday evening..
"The government will handle the Kanjuruhan tragedy well. We express our condolences to the families of the victims," Minister MD said here on Sunday.
He expressed the hope that the bereaved families would be patient and keep on working with government officials and personnel to pursue the case.
"The Malang Government will pay for the medical bills of the victims, " he said.
He said he had also coordinated with the National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo and the East Java Provincial Police Chief Inspector General Nico Afinta in regards to the matter.
He stated that before the match, the officials had anticipated through coordination and technical recommendations for the practice. For example, the match must be held in the afternoon and the number of spectators must be adjusted to the stadium's capacity, which can accommodate 38,000 people.
"But the recommendations were not adopted by the organizing committee, who seemed to be very enthusiastic. (As a matter of fact), the match was still held at night and 42,000 tickets were sold," he said.
From time to time, the government has improved the implementation of football matches, and will continue to improve it, he said.
"But this sport, which is a favorite of the general public, often provokes supporters to express emotions suddenly," he added.
As of Sunday morning, 127 people were reported to have died in the tragedy.
East Java Police Chief Inspector General Nico Afinta said two of the 127 people who died, were members of the National Police. He delivered the statement at a press conference in Malang on Sunday.
"In that incident, 127 people have died, two of whom are members of the National Police," Afinta stated.
As many as 34 people were reported to have died at Kanjuruhan Stadium, Malang District, while the rest died during treatment at a number of local hospitals, he elaborated. (*)
