Hanura Party Urges Firm Sanctions on Forest Fire Perpetrators, Cites Haze Impact on Malaysia

The Indonesian Hanura Party is calling on President Prabowo Subianto to implement strict sanctions against individuals and entities responsible for the ongoing forest and land fires in Kalimantan and Sumatra. Patrice Rio Capella, the party's Deputy Chairman, voiced frustration that these fires have become a recurring annual issue, typically occurring between August and October, despite being preventable.

Capella highlighted the transboundary impact of the fires, noting that the resulting haze has forced the closure of 15 schools in Malaysia. He expressed dismay that this situation reflects poorly on Indonesia's image internationally. "If it then becomes a national issue, even causing 15 schools in Malaysia to close due to the haze, this can reflect Indonesia's image in the eyes of foreign countries," he stated.

The party hopes the government will take serious, concrete steps to prevent the recurrence of these fires, emphasizing that enforcement actions must be followed through with legal processes and on-the-ground prevention. "Don't let the President declare that he will take firm action, but until the end, it turns out there is no firm action," Rio warned. As of Sunday, August 22, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) reported that forest and land fires had consumed over 72,798 hectares nationwide. West Kalimantan is the most severely affected province, with 38,310 hectares burned, followed by Riau, South Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, South Sumatra, and Jambi.