Defence Minister Sjafrie Says Forest Fire Targets Depend on the Indonesian People

Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin has stressed that handling forest and land fires requires mutual cooperation from all parties.

He said the target for tackling forest fires depends on the Indonesian people.

“I was told by the Chairman of Commission I that the forest fire target depends on the Indonesian people. So we must work together to overcome all of this,” Sjafrie told reporters at the Parliament Complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Monday, 31 August 2026.

Sjafrie then encouraged all parties to work together to tackle forest and land fires. Business owners were also asked to provide equipment to address the problem.

“So we must work together to overcome all of this. Yes. I have already said, ask business owners who have heavy equipment, defence equipment, water-bombing helicopters, to lend assistance to BNPB,” he explained.

On that occasion, Sjafrie also spoke about the defence budget being used for two targets. First, programme targets and second, dynamic targets.

“Programme targets have already been allocated, but dynamic targets such as forest fires and earthquakes will also receive state assistance through the defence budget so we can accelerate the aid we can provide in dealing with earthquake and forest fire disasters,” he said.