Cak Imin Provides Assistance to Karhutla Volunteers in Kalsel

BANJARBARU, KOMPAS.com - Abdul Muhaimin Iskandar (Cak Imin), the Chairman of the National Awakening Party (PKB), presented IDR 5 million in aid to volunteers fighting forest and land fires (karhutla) in South Kalimantan (Kalsel).

Cak Imin praised the resilience of the volunteers who tirelessly battled thick smoke and risked their lives to extinguish the flames.

"These extraordinary volunteers show great care and sacrifice for our brothers and sisters facing disaster," Cak Imin said in Landasan Ulin Tengah, South Kalimantan, on Saturday (24/10/2026).

PKB provided financial assistance of IDR 5 million to 10 representatives of the Fire Brigade (BPK) from 13 districts/cities in South Kalimantan.

"May you all continue to be healthy, given strength, and may this be a righteous act that, InsyaAllah, brings blessings in this world and the hereafter, amen ya rabbal alamin," Cak Imin expressed.

Cak Imin also thanked his party members in the DPW PKB Kalsel for their tireless dedication to the struggles of the community, nation, and state amidst the karhutla situation.

"What you are doing today is nothing less than service, a struggle, and a sincere effort to realize justice, prosperity, and welfare," he remarked.

During the same occasion, Cucun Ahmad Syamsurijal, the Chairman of DPW PKB Kalsel, mentioned that South Kalimantan is facing two simultaneous burdens: smoke from forest fires and drought, which has caused residents' wells to run dry.

"These (firefighter volunteers) are those who bravely enter the peatlands daily, confronting the flames and smoke," he said.

Cucun expressed deep condolences over the passing of a volunteer from Barito Kuala, Banjarmasin, who lost his life in this humanitarian mission.

"Out of concern that the public health center might catch fire, he sacrificed himself by entering the thick smoke and died in the struggle to extinguish the fires in Barito Kuala," he noted.

In addition to the financial aid, PKB distributed 28,000 liters of clean water for the residents of Banjarbaru, free medical treatment for residents across South Kalimantan, along with 65,000 free masks to all regencies/cities in South Kalimantan and 1,500 packages of staple food assistance.