Indonesia denies businessman Haji Isam leads fire response

State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi has firmly denied rumors circulating that prominent Kalimantan businessman Andi Syamsuddin Arsyad, widely known as Haji Isam, has been appointed as the coordinator for Indonesia's forest and land fire (karhutla) response.

"No. It's not true," Hadi stated when questioned in Jakarta. He acknowledged that various parties have been requested to contribute to the ongoing efforts to combat the widespread fires. However, he reiterated that no specific individual, including Haji Isam, has been designated as a coordinator for this critical task, emphasizing that such a role falls outside the purview of the businessman.

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No. It's not true.

The archipelago has been battling severe forest and land fires, particularly across Kalimantan and Sumatra. Social media has been abuzz with claims of Haji Isam's supposed appointment by Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto to lead the karhutla response. Official data from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) indicates that as of Sunday, August 23, the fires have ravaged 72,798 hectares nationwide.

Kalimantan Barat has suffered the most extensive damage, with 38,310 hectares affected. Riau province in Sumatra follows with 16,249.24 hectares, then South Kalimantan with 8,019.62 hectares, Central Kalimantan with 7,634.46 hectares, South Sumatra with 1,926.23 hectares, and Jambi with approximately 658.29 hectares. In response, 57,267 personnel have been deployed to combat the flames across these six provinces.

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That all parties are asked to help, yes. But to be a coordinator, no, because the authority is not there.