Indonesia rules out national disaster status for forest fires for now

JAKARTA: Indonesia will not declare its prolonged forest and land fires a national disaster for now, saying it remains capable of managing the crisis despite concerns over transboundary haze affecting neighbouring countries, including Malaysia.

Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Dudung Abdurachman said the decision was made at a limited cabinet meeting chaired by President Prabowo Subianto at the Presidential Palace here on Monday.

"Not yet, not yet. We are still capable of handling it," he told reporters after the meeting.

Dudung said offers of international assistance were not discussed, although he acknowledged concerns from neighbouring countries over the haze.

"There have indeed been responses from other countries regarding these forest fires, but we have made maximum efforts," he said, expressing hope that the situation could be resolved soon.

On Oct 8, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he had contacted Prabowo about the haze and conveyed Malaysia's readiness to help to combat the fires.

Meanwhile, Dudung said Prabowo had directed firefighting efforts to focus on Tanjung Puting National Park and other affected areas in Central Kalimantan, as well as South Sumatra.

"Tanjung Puting and areas surrounding the national park must be protected because there is wildlife there," he said.

The park is internationally known for its orangutan conservation and rehabilitation programmes.

Earlier today, House of Representatives Commission IV member Daniel Johan has urged the government to declare the prolonged forest and land fires a national disaster and remain open to international assistance, including Malaysia's offer of firefighting support.

Daniel said the scale of the crisis required regional cooperation and that accepting foreign help should not be viewed as a sign of weakness.

Meanwhile, Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni warned that authorities must remain on high alert for another month, with natural rainfall not expected in parts of Indonesia until mid-November or even December.

During an inspection of firefighting operations at the Liang Anggang Protected Forest in Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan, he said the government was preparing to suspend or revoke the business permits of another five or six companies over fire-related violations.

Action had been taken against 26 companies, including five forestry concession holders in Kalimantan whose permits were revoked on Sept 21, he said.

The concession covered about 92,464 hectares, of which approximately 1,169 hectares had been affected by fires.