Prabowo Praises Forestry Minister Raja Juli for Not Granting Timber Felling Permits: I Didn't Ask Which Party You're From

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - President Prabowo Subianto praised the Forestry Minister (Menhut) Raja Juli Antoni for not yet granting timber felling permits to business actors to date. According to Prabowo, the minister’s performance under his leadership is considered good. It began with Prabowo mentioning a report he received regarding Mining Business Permits (IUP) in protected forests. He asked the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) to evaluate all those mines. After receiving that report, Prabowo then checked other permits in the Forestry Ministry (Kemenhut). He then found that the Forestry Minister had not given timber felling permits. “I checked the Forestry Minister, I checked, alhamdulillah, this Forestry Minister is okay too. He hasn’t given, he hasn’t given permission to cut timber,” Prabowo stated. Prabowo then threw a joke at Raja Juli. The head of state also quipped that he does not assess a minister’s performance based on their party origin. “Where’s the forestry minister? There? Oh, it’s you, Forestry Minister. Wow, he’s beaming. I didn’t ask which party you’re from,” Prabowo joked, met with laughter from the invited guests present.