DPR Member Calls for Punishments for Companies Related to Forest Fires to Go Beyond Administrative Sanctions

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Member of Commission III of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) Sarifuddin Sudding has urged the government and law enforcement authorities to investigate allegations of bribery in the issuance of concession permits related to forest and land fires (Karhutla).

According to Sudding, actions should not only target companies involved in Karhutla through the freezing or revocation of permits or administrative sanctions.

Law enforcement agencies also need to examine individuals suspected of involvement in bribery practices for issuing land concession permits.

“Don't just freeze the corporations involved in forest and land burning; they must also be held accountable through legal processes,” Sudding stated on Saturday (24/10/2026).

“This includes legal processes against those who granted concession permits if there are indications of criminal bribery involved,” he continued.

The PAN politician emphasized that the issuance of permits to companies that repeatedly violate regulations needs serious attention.

He also called on the government and enforcement officials to track down those responsible for the licensing processes.

“How is it possible that a corporation has repeatedly committed violations but still receives concession permits? That means there are hidden interests behind the permit granting process. This needs to be investigated to determine who is responsible,” Sudding explained.

Therefore, he said, investigators need to trace the connections between actions in the field, decision-making within the company, and the bureaucratic permit issuance process.

He added that the investigation could include location data, incident history, operational records, internal communications, and documents related to fire prevention and management as needed.

“If there are indications of directives, negligence, or complacency, investigators need to delve into those who have the authority and ability to prevent or manage these issues,” he concluded.

Earlier, President Prabowo Subianto expressed surprise that some companies have repeatedly violated regulations regarding forest and land utilization concession permits.

The head of state emphasized this while discussing forest and land fires (Karhutla), noting that there are indications involving many foreign companies.

In fact, there are companies that have committed violations up to 19 times yet still retain their permits.