MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM – Medan Mayor, Rico Waas, once again engaged directly with residents through the "Sapa Warga" program, a public outreach initiative designed to collect community feedback firsthand. The event was held alongside a community-led gotong royong (mutual cooperation) clean-up action on Jalan Muara Sipongi, Gaharu Urban Village, Medan Timur District, on Saturday, May 9, 2026.
The initiative provided residents with an open platform to communicate their concerns directly to the city government while participating in environmental cleanup activities together with local officials and community leaders.
Mayor Rico emphasized that the program is not merely a complaint collection forum but a mechanism to accelerate real-time problem-solving.
Read Also: Medan Utara Hosts Islamic Cultural Festival to Boost Belawan Image "Whatever the issues are, speak up. I have deliberately brought the heads of relevant agencies so that every complaint can be followed up immediately, not just recorded," he told residents during the visit.
Residents Raise Infrastructure and Land Concerns
During the dialogue session, citizens raised a range of pressing issues, particularly related to infrastructure and land administration.
One resident, Husni Thamrin Rambe, requested government assistance in resolving legal ownership issues involving a mosque and a wakaf (endowed) land plot on Jalan Purwosari that remains unresolved.
Read Also: Rico Waas Backs MAIR 2026 Running Event Another resident, Zulfahri, highlighted poor road conditions on Jalan Perwira 1, noting uneven road elevation between a mosque area and a nearby warehouse that frequently causes flooding during heavy rainfall.
He also reported malfunctioning streetlights, delayed maintenance work, drainage problems, and inefficient waste management services that residents believe require urgent attention.
Immediate Instructions to Government AgenciesIn response to the complaints, Mayor Rico instructed the heads of relevant regional government agencies (OPD) to conduct immediate field inspections and avoid generic responses.
Read Also: Edison Ginting Leads PWPM Medan 2026–2029 He stressed that concrete, on-the-ground action is necessary to resolve community issues effectively and efficiently.
According to him, the "Sapa Warga" program serves as a strategic tool to accelerate development and improve the overall quality of life in Medan.
"By directly absorbing community input, we hope to achieve more equitable development and continuously improve living standards," the mayor added.
Strengthening Collaboration Between Government and Citizens
Read Also: Medan Strengthens Job Linkages Through Youth Training Programs The event was attended by municipal officials, agency heads, religious leaders, and community representatives, reflecting strong cross-sector participation.
The City Government of Medan hopes that initiatives like this will further strengthen collaboration between authorities and residents in addressing environmental, infrastructure, and development challenges collectively. (IDNC)
REPORTER:
Teguh Panjaitan | EDITOR:
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