Jumhur Hidayat Deemed Capable of Strengthening Environmental Policy Direction

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Ecology Network (PENA) assesses that Jumhur Hidayat, appointed by President Prabowo as Minister of Environment, is capable of strengthening the direction of national environmental policies amid increasingly complex ecological crises. “The inauguration of Jumhur Hidayat represents an important momentum in strengthening the direction of national environmental policies,” stated PENA General Chairman Laurencus Pakpahan in Jakarta on Wednesday. He views Jumhur as a figure with a long track record in social movements and grassroots advocacy, given his extensive experience as a student activist and labour leader. “This gives him a strong social sensitivity in addressing environmental issues that directly intersect with people’s lives,” Laurencus said. He noted that Jumhur Hidayat is a movement activist who has long been involved in social struggles since his student days, including the reform movement and advocacy for small community groups. According to him, Jumhur has led a national labour organisation and has government experience, making him capable of bridging environmental interests with economic aspects and public welfare. The ongoing ecological crises, Laurencus said, from waste problems and ecosystem damage to pressures on natural resources, require leadership that supports sustainability and ecological justice. Therefore, Jumhur Hidayat’s leadership is hoped to drive the integration of environmental policies, social justice, and sustainable economic development. Furthermore, PENA emphasises the importance of strengthening environmental governance, including the implementation of long-term policies and protection of strategic ecosystems, such as mangroves, which form the foundation of Indonesia’s environmental future. “This momentum must be utilised to bring environmental policies that are not only strong on paper but also supportive of the people and ecologically sustainable,” Laurencus stated. Previously, President Prabowo Subianto officially inaugurated Mohammad Jumhur Hidayat as Minister of Environment (LH)/Head of the Environment Control Agency (BPLH) at the State Palace in Jakarta on Monday (27/4). The appointment of Jumhur as Minister of LH/Head of BPLH was based on Presidential Decree Number 51 P on the Dismissal and Appointment of Ministers and Deputy Ministers of the Merah Putih Cabinet for the 2024-2029 Period.