Prabowo Praises Forestry Minister Raja Juli for Not Issuing Mining Permits Indiscriminately: I Won't Ask Which Party

President Prabowo Subianto once again praised the Minister of Forestry (Menhut) Raja Juli Antoni after he did not grant Mining Business Permits (IUP) to rogue companies. He even joked that he would not ask about Raja Juli’s party affiliation.

Prabowo conveyed this during the Presidential Briefing in the Working Meeting of the Government Members of the Red and White Cabinet at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, on Wednesday (8/4/2026).

Prabowo initially admitted to receiving reports that many rogue companies still intended to operate in protected forests. He stated that he had directly checked those reports.

“I received reports of hundreds of unclear mines, or unclear IUPs in protected forests and in forests. I checked,” said Prabowo.

After conducting the checks, Prabowo admitted to being satisfied with Raja Juli’s performance. According to him, Raja Juli did not issue logging permits.

“I checked the forestry minister, oh alhamdulillah, this forestry minister is okay too. He hasn’t given permission to cut wood yet,” he continued.

Prabowo then looked for Raja Juli among the attendees at the working meeting. He joked that he would not ask about Raja Juli’s party origins, as he currently serves as the Secretary-General of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI).

“Where is the forestry minister? Oh, it’s you, the forestry minister. Aduh, he is beaming, I won’t ask which party you are from,” said Prabowo, met with laughter from those present.