Prabowo Evaluates Illegal Mining: Interests of Friends and Family Come Last
President Prabowo Subianto has instructed the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Bahlil Lahadalia, to immediately evaluate and take firm action against illegal mining practices. Prabowo emphasised that no specific group interests take precedence over the interests of the nation.
The directive was delivered by Prabowo during the Presidential Briefing to members of the Red and White Cabinet and officials from ministries and agencies at the Presidential Palace complex on Wednesday (8/4/2026).
It began with Prabowo stating that he had received reports concerning hundreds of problematic Mining Business Permits (IUP) in protected forests that require rectification. He then verified the data with the Ministry of Forestry and found that the mines also lacked wood-cutting permits.
In his instructions, Prabowo stressed that the government has no time to be lenient towards these mining permits, including those involving close associates or specific groups.
“Evaluate immediately. If it’s not clear, revoke them all. We no longer have time to be too merciful. No mercy now. We are only defending national interests and the interests of the people,” Prabowo asserted firmly.
Prabowo also emphasised that personal interests, group interests, or relationships must not hinder efforts to regulate the mining sector.
“Interests of friends, interests of mates, interests of family, interests of groups come last, yes,” he stated.
Prabowo then asked Bahlil about the deadline for the evaluation results of these permits. Prabowo ordered Bahlil to rectify the permits within one week.
“Evaluate immediately. How many days to report back to me? Two weeks? That’s too easy—two weeks. One week, we revoke all the IUPs, yes, in principle, in principle, those that are not in order, we revoke,” he said.
Prabowo affirmed that revoking problematic mining permits is to ensure that the management of natural resources benefits the state and the people once again.
“It must be in the hands of the state. And we can then strengthen our institutions,” he added.