Prabowo on Forest Fires: Some Countries Mock Us, but We’ll Stay Cool

President Prabowo Subianto said foreign companies should be held responsible for forest and land fires in Indonesia that have sent haze to neighbouring countries. He said Indonesia had made efforts to tackle the fires.

“There are indications that many foreign companies should also be held responsible for the forest fires,” Prabowo said at a national coordination meeting of the Regional Financial Access Acceleration Team (TPAKD) at JIExpo Kemayoran in Jakarta on Thursday (22 October 2026).

He referred to foreign companies that had been granted concessions but had instead committed violations. Some, he said, had been recorded as violating the rules 19 times.

“They were given concessions more than a decade ago. Some have violated the rules three or four times, some a dozen times, and some 19 times. In my view, if they have violated the rules twice, just revoke [their permits],” he said.

Prabowo then referred to countries mocking Indonesia over the fires. He said the government was taking responsibility and had deployed resources to deal with the situation.

“So we are taking responsibility, but there are also several countries mocking and insulting us and so on, even though many of the companies responsible are theirs and operate here. In due course, we will announce their names,” he said.

Prabowo said efforts to extinguish the fires were being carried out to the fullest. He said personnel from the Indonesian Military (TNI), the National Police and various agencies were working extremely hard to put them out.

“We’ll just stay cool; we’ll remain calm and take responsibility. We have deployed substantial forces — the TNI, police and local governments are working extremely hard. You are witnesses; you are on the front line, regents and governors,” he said.

“These are our children, our people, whose health has been harmed,” he added.

Prabowo called for further investigations into companies suspected of involvement in the fires. He warned officials not to hesitate to revoke the permits of companies that had broken the rules.

“I was also surprised. This company has violated the rules three times. The worst one — check again whether it really was 19 times. That’s outrageous. I won’t hesitate: whoever breaks the rules, just revoke [their permit],” he said.