Prabowo Pleased No Companies Allowed to Log Timber

The government faces a policy dilemma with no truly comfortable options. President Prabowo Subianto expressed appreciation for the performance of Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni, deemed firm in safeguarding forest preservation. President Prabowo highlighted the Forestry Minister’s step of not yet granting permits to any companies to conduct timber logging in forest areas. This was stated by President Prabowo during the Presidential Briefing in the Working Meeting of the Red and White Cabinet Members at the Palace, Jakarta (8/4). The meeting was attended by all levels of the Prabowo-Gibran cabinet members. Initially, the President revealed that he received reports regarding the existence of hundreds of unclear mining business permits (IUP), including those in protected forest areas. This prompted the President to conduct direct checks on field conditions and policies taken by the relevant ministries. “I received reports of hundreds of unclear mines, or unclear IUPs in protected forests and forests. I checked,” said President Prabowo. After conducting the investigation, the President admitted to being satisfied with the performance of Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni. Prabowo stated that Forestry Minister Raja Antoni did not issue timber logging permits. “I checked my forestry minister, oh alhamdulillah, this forestry minister is okay too. He hasn’t given permission to cut wood,” continued the President. Prabowo then sought and directly interacted with the Forestry Minister while delivering his statement. Forestry Minister Raja Antoni appeared to stand and smile in response to the president’s statement. “Where is the forestry minister? Oh, it’s you, the forestry minister, hehe, oh he’s beaming, I didn’t ask what party he’s from,” said President Prabowo. The government, through the Ministry of Forestry, reaffirms its commitment to strengthening the governance of natural resources, particularly in the forestry and mining sectors, to make them more transparent and sustainable. The Ministry of Forestry under the leadership of Raja Juli Antoni is also continuously evaluating permits deemed problematic.