Puan on Forest Fire Land Becoming Palm Plantations: It Must Be Investigated
Jakarta, VIVA – Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), Puan Maharani, has spoken out over allegations that land affected by forest and land fires (karhutla) has been converted into palm oil plantations.
Puan has asked the relevant parties to investigate these alleged land conversions.
“Regarding whether areas affected by forest fires have since changed function, we will ask the relevant parties to investigate that,” Puan told journalists at the Parliament Complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday, 8 September 2026.
Puan judged that the conversion of former fire-affected land into palm plantations must not be allowed to happen. She therefore demanded the matter be followed up promptly.
“And that should not be allowed to happen and must be acted upon immediately,” she said.
As previously reported, President Prabowo Subianto asked the National Police Chief, General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, to submit a list of corporations involved in forest and land fires, saying he was surprised that burnt land had immediately turned into plantation land.
The Head of State emphasised that he would not hesitate to revoke all permits of companies involved in forest and land fires.
This emerged as Prabowo chaired a limited cabinet meeting on disaster management at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Monday, 7 September 2026.
Earlier, the National Police Chief, General Listyo Sigit, reported that his forces had named 138 suspects in connection with forest and land fires. Of that number, 119 people were suspected of deliberately setting fires, while the remaining 18 were suspected of negligence.
In addition, the National Police have processed eight corporations linked to fire cases, and are still looking into suspected criminal offences involving 18 other companies.
The Police Chief further stated that 42 companies have so far been subject to administrative sanctions in the form of permit suspensions or revocations. Police are still examining the possibility of criminal elements in the activities of these companies.
Responding to the report, President Prabowo asked the National Police Chief to continue investigating allegations of deliberate land burning, including possible involvement by communities and corporations.
“I am struck by the fact that after a fire, the land immediately becomes plantation land within a very short time. So this is clearly deliberate, whether by the people or corporations — please keep investigating, and I want the names of those corporations to reach me soon,” Prabowo said.