Case of 13 Corporations, Including Foreign Entities as Suspects in Forest Fires, to be Discussed in DPR's Working Meeting

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Rajiv, a member of Commission IV of the DPR from the Nasdem faction, stated that the progress of handling forest and land fires (karhutla), including investigations into several corporations responsible for these fires, will be a focus during discussions in the Special Committee (Panja) on karhutla in Commission IV of the DPR.

According to data from National Police Chief General Suyudi Ario Seto, there are 13 corporations identified as suspects in the karhutla case, involving foreign entities as well.

“I appreciate the efforts of the police in addressing karhutla, including investigating several corporations suspected of being linked to the fires. We will bring data and updates from these investigations into the Panja Karhutla meeting at the DPR to conduct a joint evaluation,” Rajiv said in a press release on Friday (23/10/2026).

Rajiv explained that resolving karhutla requires a serious commitment from all parties, from firefighting efforts to investigating the causes of the fires.

If any violations are found, he said, investigations must be carried out professionally, based on evidence and applicable legal provisions.

“We in Commission IV of the DPR need to be supplied with data to align it with the existing information,” he added.

Rajiv conveyed that discussions in the Panja Karhutla can serve as a platform to evaluate the government's and authorities' actions in addressing karhutla.

Through these discussions, Rajiv continued, the DPR can gain insights into the progress of on-ground handling, challenges faced, and follow-up actions regarding alleged violations.

“We want to ensure that the handling of karhutla is taken seriously, whether in terms of firefighting, prevention, or law enforcement against parties proven to be in violation. This issue must be comprehensively addressed to prevent recurrence that can cause harm to both society and the environment,” Rajiv stated.

He also urged the Ministry of Forestry to strengthen collaboration with the police in handling karhutla.

From enhancing prevention efforts to accelerating integrated responses in the field, it is crucial to prevent fires from spreading and mitigate their impact on communities and the environment.

Furthermore, Rajiv mentioned that in the aspect of prevention, the Ministry of Forestry needs to optimize monitoring in fire-prone areas, assess field conditions, and prepare personnel and equipment.

He emphasized that these actions should also be supported by patrols and information exchanges so that fire potentials can be identified earlier.

“Preventing karhutla must be reinforced through oversight in fire-prone areas, monitoring field conditions, and preparing personnel and equipment. Patrols need to be optimized, and inter-agency information exchange must be effective so that fire potentials can be detected earlier and managed before they escalate,” Rajiv asserted.

Meanwhile, in combating karhutla, the deployment of personnel must be adapted to the conditions of the fires and the characteristics of the land.