Indonesia's Palace Denies Haji Isam Appointment as Kalimantan Forest Fire Coordinator

The Indonesian Presidential Palace has officially denied rumors that President Prabowo Subianto appointed South Kalimantan businessman Andi Syamsuddin Arsyad, known as Haji Isam, as the coordinator for handling forest and land fires in Kalimantan. The reports had gained traction on social media and were published by various media outlets.

State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi confirmed on Sunday in Jakarta that the reports were untrue. He clarified that Isam's current role is as the Special Presidential Envoy for Energy, Food, and Infrastructure. Hadi cautioned against believing every viral issue, stating that such narratives could lead to problems.

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That is not true.

While the government has requested assistance from all parties in combating forest and land fires, Hadi emphasized that Isam is not acting as a coordinator. He explained that the authority for coordinating disaster response lies with minister-level officials appointed as disaster management coordinators. These ministers oversee efforts across various regions, including fires in Kalimantan and earthquakes in East Nusa Tenggara.

Hadi also stated that the government currently has no plans to establish a dedicated task force for forest and land fires, as it considers the existing cross-sector coordination mechanisms to be sufficiently robust. The denial comes after a narrative circulated on social media alleging Isam's appointment, purportedly conveyed by the Minister of Defense.

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However, acting as the coordinator is not the case; that is not where the authority lies.