Palangka Raya (ANTARA) – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has vowed to hold corporations accountable for land clearing by fire as wildfires spread across parts of Kalimantan, Sumatra and Java.
“Yes, we must take stern action against them. If their involvement is proven, we will take action in accordance with the law,” he said in Palangka Raya on Saturday night.
Prabowo warned companies of severe legal consequences for environmental offenses after chairing a coordination meeting on wildfires in Central Kalimantan Province.
The president expressed optimism about firefighting efforts, stressing the need for sustained coordination between central and regional authorities to contain the fires.
“I hope for the immediate containment of fires. Looking back, we managed to deal with very severe wildfires in the past,” Prabowo said.
State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi said four corporations in West Kalimantan are under investigation for suspected involvement in forest and land fires.
“Reports indicate that there are four corporations currently under investigation,” Hadi told reporters after accompanying Prabowo to the Palangka Raya meeting.
Hadi said the government would take appropriate action against companies found responsible for triggering wildfires, including potentially revoking their operating permits.
The government will determine its legal response based on the results of the investigations, Hadi said.
Prabowo intervened as multiple government institutions coordinate efforts to suppress wildfires across Kalimantan.
He traveled from Jakarta to West Kalimantan on Saturday to assess the situation.
At a meeting in Kubu Raya District, Prabowo received updates showing more than 3,500 hotspots in West Kalimantan, including 198 classified as high-confidence hotspots from satellite imagery.
He ordered the deployment of 1,500 additional soldiers and six helicopters to strengthen firefighting operations in the province.
Prabowo then traveled to Palangka Raya, where he ordered four additional helicopters to conduct water-bombing operations across Central Kalimantan.
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Translator: M. Arif Hidayat, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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