- Forest and land fires are burning across parts of Indonesia, sending haze towards neighbouring Malaysia, prompting President Prabowo to vow firm action against corporations found responsible.
- President Prabowo stated, “We will go after them if they are proven guilty. We will penalise them according to the law,” during a press conference in Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan.
- He flew to West Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan over the weekend to assess the damage and meet local officials coordinating the emergency response.
- According to forestry ministry data, more than 202,000 hectares (499,153 acres) of land were burned between January and July, including nearly 95,000 hectares in July alone.
- Six provinces have been designated as priorities: Riau, Jambi, and South Sumatra on Sumatra island, alongside West, Central, and South Kalimantan on Borneo.
- The blazes have produced choking smoke, forced school closures, and blanketed parts of the region in haze that has drifted into Malaysia, with Sarawak among the worst-affected areas.
As toxic haze from forest fires spreads across Indonesia and into Malaysia, President Prabowo has vowed to take action against corporations responsible for the devastation.
Prabowo stated, “We will go after them if they are proven guilty. We will penalise them according to the law,” during a visit to Central Kalimantan.2
The fires have burned over 202,000 hectares (499,153 acres) of land since January, with nearly 95,000 hectares consumed in July alone, according to forestry ministry data.4
Six provinces have been prioritized for emergency response: Riau, Jambi, and South Sumatra on Sumatra island, along with West, Central, and South Kalimantan on Borneo.5
The blazes have resulted in choking smoke, forced school closures, and created hazardous conditions in affected areas, particularly in Sarawak, Malaysia.6
Prabowo's commitment to penalize corporations marks a critical moment in Indonesia's ongoing struggle to hold accountable those responsible for land burning, a long-standing issue that has plagued the region.
“Forestry ministry data shows nearly 95,000 hectares burned in July alone, with six provinces—Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, and three Kalimantan provinces—designated as priorities. The blazes have forced school closures and blanketed Sarawak in haze, testing Jakarta's resolve to break the cycle.”
South China Morning Post
