Partai Gelora criticizes Forestry Minister over forest fire response

The Gelora Party has criticized Indonesian Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni for a perceived slow response to forest and land fires (karhutla) across Indonesia, particularly in Sumatra and Kalimantan.

Rully Syumanda, Gelora Party's Head of Forestry and Environment, stated that the Minister should utilize existing satellite technology to detect hotspots and implement mitigation strategies before fires expand. He argued that waiting for fires to grow causes massive impacts on health, the environment, and the economy.

Data from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) indicates that burned land area reached 38,310.89 hectares from the beginning of the year through June 2026. Affected regions include West, Central, and South Kalimantan, as well as South Sumatra and Riau.