Haji Isam Said to Be Appointed Karhutla Coordinator, State Secretary: Not True
State Secretary (Mensesneg) Prasetyo Hadi has denied reports that businessman Andi Syamsuddin Arsyad, also known as Haji Isam, was appointed as coordinator for forest and land fire (karhutla) management. According to Prasetyo, the information is not true.
The news regarding Haji Isam’s appointment circulated on social media. In one post on X seen by detikcom on Sunday (23/8/2026), it was claimed that President Prabowo Subianto had tasked Haji Isam with leading karhutla management.
“There is none. It does not exist. That is not true,” said Prasetyo, denying the information, when met at JCC, Jakarta, Sunday (23/8/2026).
Prasetyo explained that the government has indeed invited various parties to help with karhutla management. However, he stressed that there was no specific appointment of Haji Isam as coordinator.
“That all parties are asked to help, yes. But to become coordinator, no, because the authority is not there,” he said.
The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) recorded the extent of karhutla in Indonesia. Based on BNPB records, the total area of karhutla in Indonesia reached 72,798 hectares.
Based on data presented by BNPB Deputy for Prevention Abdul Muhari, Sunday (22/8/2026), the province with the largest karhutla area is West Kalimantan (Kalbar) with 38,310 hectares. The number of personnel deployed to extinguish fires in West Kalimantan totalled 10,010.
The following is a list of karhutla areas in Indonesia.
Burned land area:
West Kalimantan: 38,310.89 ha
Riau: 16,249.24 ha
South Kalimantan: 8,019.62 ha
Central Kalimantan: 7,634.46 ha
South Sumatra: 1,926.23 ha
Jambi: ± 658.29 ha
Total: ± 72,798.73 ha
Ground task force:
West Kalimantan: 10,010
Central Kalimantan: 10,700
South Kalimantan: 1,408
Riau: 17,764
Jambi: 5,818
South Sumatra: 11,567
Total: 57,267