Politics · Indonesia · 2 hrs ago
Prabowo orders stronger action against fires sending haze to Singapore and Malaysia
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has ordered stronger action against forest and land fires that are sending haze to Singapore and Malaysia.
He told the disaster agency to step up firefighting, especially in Central Kalimantan and South Sumatra.
The fires have disrupted flights, closed schools and raised health concerns.
Indonesia has deployed more than 60,000 personnel across six provinces, but smoke and difficult terrain have made the work harder.
Fires in peatland can keep burning underground and need large amounts of water to put out.
Singapore and Malaysia have offered help, including aircraft, helicopters and personnel, but those offers were not discussed at Prabowo’s meeting on Oct 12.
Indonesia says it is still able to handle the fires and has not declared them a national disaster; Prabowo’s stated target is to bring them under control as soon as possible.
President Prabowo Subianto ordered stronger action against forest and land fires sending haze to Singapore and Malaysia.
He instructed Indonesia’s disaster agency to step up firefighting, particularly in Central Kalimantan and South Sumatra.
More than 60,000 personnel have been deployed across six provinces, while smoke and difficult terrain have hindered efforts.
Offers of assistance from Singapore and Malaysia were not discussed at Prabowo’s Oct 12 meeting.
Indonesia has not declared the fires a national disaster, with a minister saying the country can still handle them.
- Who
- President Prabowo Subianto ordered stronger firefighting action.
- What
- Indonesia is fighting forest and land fires that have sent haze to Singapore and Malaysia.
- When
- The meeting at which Prabowo issued the order was held on Oct 12. The sources do not state the year in the article text.
- Where
- The fires are in Indonesia, particularly Central Kalimantan and South Sumatra.
- Why
- The fires have sent thick haze to neighbouring countries and disrupted flights, forced school closures and raised health concerns.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The President’s target is as soon as possible. He is very, very focused on this forest and land fire problem.
Not yet. That was not discussed earlier.
Greenpeace activists rallied outside Malaysia’s Parliament, demanding greater transparency over those responsible for the haze.
Prabowo spoke by telephone with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Indonesian officials and a Brazilian team tested a fire suppressant in Banyuasin, South Sumatra.
Singapore’s environment minister offered support to Indonesia, and Indonesia’s foreign minister said he had discussed firefighting efforts with his Malaysian counterpart.
Prabowo chaired a meeting and ordered stronger firefighting action, while offers of foreign help were not discussed.
- Firefighting personnel
- More than 60,000 deployed
- Provinces covered
- Six in Sumatra and Kalimantan
- Priority areas
- Central Kalimantan and South Sumatra
- Fire suppressant trial
- Oct 9 in Banyuasin, South Sumatra
- National disaster status
- Not declared at the time of the meeting
Sources
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