PKS Legislator on Indonesia's Forest Fire Issue at ASEAN Summit: A Momentum for Cooperation

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Johan Rosihan, a member of the DPR Commission IV, views Malaysia's plan to bring the issue of Indonesia's forest and land fires (karhutla) to the ASEAN Summit as an opportunity to strengthen regional cooperation in addressing these fires.

"I see Malaysia's proposal to discuss forest and land fires at the ASEAN Summit as a momentum to enhance regional collaboration," Johan told Kompas.com on Friday (23/10/2026).

He noted that karhutla is a serious issue given the transboundary smoke impacts.

The smoke not only affects health but also impacts the economy and diplomatic relations, which are common interests of ASEAN countries.

The PKS politician mentioned that Indonesia and ASEAN countries already have a framework for cooperation through the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution.

Thus, he believes the ASEAN Summit Forum can be utilized to evaluate the implementation of this agreement, particularly concerning early warning systems, hotspot data sharing, joint firefighting operations, and monitoring companies whose activities might cause fires.

"Indonesia also has a vested interest in ensuring that corporate responsibility is enforced fairly and transparently, even when involving cross-border investments," he stated.

Humas DPR RI Johan Rosihan Johan Rosihan, Member of the DPR RI from the PKS party representing Sumbawa Island, NTB.

He hopes that discussions at the ASEAN level will yield concrete, measurable actions.

He emphasized that the Indonesian government remains primarily responsible for protecting its communities and forests, while regional cooperation could enhance prevention and response capabilities.

However, it is essential to guarantee Indonesia's sovereignty is safeguarded in transboundary management.

"The ultimate goal is to protect the Indonesian people while ensuring neighboring countries do not continue facing threats from transboundary haze," he said.

Malaysia Plans to Bring Forest Fire Issues to ASEAN Summit

The Malaysian government announced it will bring the issue of transboundary haze to the upcoming ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting ahead of the 49th ASEAN Summit in Manila, Philippines, next month.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan stated that the haze problem requires special attention because it is currently not covered by the existing disaster response mechanisms within ASEAN, as reported by Bernama on Monday (12/10/2026).

Mohamad Hasan emphasized that Malaysia cannot remain passive in the face of uncontrolled forest fires in Indonesia.

According to Mohamad Hasan, the Malaysian government is seeking appropriate forms of assistance that suit the ground conditions, especially since some fire points are far in the interior.

The threat of haze spread is also reflected in the actions of the ASEAN Special Meteorological Centre (ASMC), which has issued a Level 3 warning for the southern ASEAN region.

This warning was issued due to the high risk of thick haze spreading to neighboring countries, as cited by Harian Metro Malaysia on Saturday (17/10/2026).

Most recently, Malaysian parliament member Kalam Salan conveyed a message to Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Javanese.

"Sir, the smoke from the forest fires makes it difficult for Malaysians to breathe. Many are coughing, their throats are itchy, and they are short of breath," Kalam Salan said in the Malaysian Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (21/10/2026).