Prabowo Orders Investigation into Forest Fire Corporations, Cites Non-Compliant Companies

JAKARTA - President Prabowo Subianto has ordered a continued investigation into corporations and individuals who deliberately burn forests and land. He also highlighted the existence of companies that ignore their obligation to provide means for preventing and extinguishing fires. Prabowo conveyed this during a discussion with academics regarding the handling of forest and peatland fires at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Thursday, September 24, 2026. The President stated that the government will continue to investigate corporations and parties suspected of deliberately setting fires. "We will continue to investigate corporations, individuals who deliberately set fire," said Prabowo. According to him, companies have obligations regulated in fire prevention provisions. These include providing a watchtower, a pond or water reservoir, and a fire brigade from among their employees. Prabowo cited provisions such as a tower for every five hectares of land and ponds based on a certain area. However, he admitted that the compliance of companies with these provisions was uneven. "Every 5 hectares must have a tower. Every so many hectares must have a pond, there are regulations. And you must have a fire brigade from your employees," he said. "There are companies that comply, there are companies that do not. We have to regulate this," he continued. The President distinguished the obligations of companies from the handling of people who need land. For the public, the government has prepared an approach in the form of education and assistance for land preparation and water pumps. Prabowo has also tasked the TNI (Indonesian National Armed Forces) to deploy 1,000 officers to several regencies to provide this education. On the other hand, for corporations, the President emphasized the implementation of fire prevention obligations stipulated in regulations. Prabowo also sought input from academics regarding more effective fire prevention measures, especially in peat forest areas. Source: VOI English