State Secretary on Forestry Minister's Absence from Prabowo's Forest Fire Meetings

State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi has explained the reason Forestry Minister Raja Juli Anthony did not attend President Prabowo Subianto’s working visits to regions dealing with forest and land fires. Raja Juli was not seen when Prabowo chaired meetings on forest fire management in Kalimantan and Sumatra.

For context, Raja Juli, as Forestry Minister, was absent when Prabowo led meetings and inspected forest fire hotspots in West Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan on Saturday (22/8/2026). He was again not seen during the same agenda in Riau and South Sumatra on Monday (24/8).

State Secretary Prasetyo assessed that Raja Juli’s absence was not due to any specific reason. According to Pras, the Forestry Minister was not seen with Prabowo because Raja Juli had previously visited several forest fire locations, including South Sumatra.

“No, it was just a coincidence because the Forestry Minister has visited the field several times, including in South Sumatra. The Environment Minister also visited South Sumatra recently. So this is just a matter of coincidence,” Prasetyo said in Palembang.

Pras explained that Prabowo’s visits to Kalimantan and Sumatra for forest fire management meetings were more focused on strengthening TNI and Polri elements to support field operations. Pras concluded that Raja Juli’s absence was purely coincidental.

“So this is just a matter of coincidence,” Prasetyo said.

Pras said that during the meetings in Kalimantan and Sumatra, Prabowo wanted to ensure additional support would be available if needed, whether in the form of personnel or equipment to tackle forest fires that have affected neighbouring countries.

“Today the President is indeed focused on inviting the TNI Commander and National Police Chief to add strength if personnel or equipment are needed, including water bombing helicopters, and there was also a request for modified trail motorcycles,” he explained.

Pras stressed that there was no particular problem regarding the Forestry Minister’s absence from the meetings chaired by Prabowo in Kalimantan and Sumatra.

“So it is just a matter of coincidence,” he added.