Coordinating minister briefs president on wildfire response in closed-door palace meeting
Coordinating Minister Dudung Abdurachman met with senior officials at the Palace to update the president on wildfire mitigation efforts and await further directives.
At around 2 p.m. local time, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Dudung Abdurachman entered the Palace to brief the president on the results of a recent meeting with multiple ministries about wildfire mitigation. He said he would convey those findings and expected additional presidential instructions on forest and land fires, but declined to disclose the count of active hotspots or any plan to label the fires a national disaster.
Also present was National Peat and Mangrove Management Agency chief Satyawan Pudyatmoko, who confirmed the agenda would focus on wildfire response. Other attendees included Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian and Presidential Chief of Staff Listyo Sigit Prabowo. The closed-door session followed a Monday morning meeting chaired by Abdurachman that gathered the foreign, transmigration, deputy environment ministers, as well as heads of the National Research and Innovation Agency and the Government Communications Agency, who exchanged views on mitigation measures and current political developments.
Why it matters
The meeting determines how Indonesia's government will coordinate actions to curb worsening wildfires that threaten health and the environment.
How this story developed
- Sep 27 Sumatra forest fires blamed for worsening haze over Johor and nearby regions
- Oct 5 The Department of Environment reported that Malaysia contributed only about 3% of fire hotspots detected by satellite in southern Southeast Asia, with most occurring in Indonesia's Kalimantan and Sumatra.
- Oct 8 Prime Minister Anwar said the worsening haze is a serious health risk and has asked President Prabowo to take action, while Malaysia ramps up cloud seeding.
- Oct 10 Kuala Lumpur and Singapore now record AQI levels that place them among the world’s most polluted major cities.
- Oct 10 The class‑action suit moved to a hearing in Pontianak, where no defendants were present.
- Oct 13 Updated satellite data reveal further growth in Sumatra's fire hotspots.
- Oct 15 The government, led by Sustainability and Environment Minister Grace Fu, is gathering evidence and keeping legal options open as PSI levels in western Singapore entered the very unhealthy range. The 2014 law allows fines up to S$100,000 per day, capped at S$2 million, for companies whose fires produce prolonged haze. Enforcement has been challenging, with limited data from Indonesian authorities and four firms still under investigation. Fu also urged Indonesia to curb the fires and called for ASEAN cooperation.
- Oct 15 Singapore’s health ministry announced subsidies limiting out‑of‑pocket costs for haze‑related illnesses.
- Oct 16 President Prabowo appointed army general Kristomei Sianturi to lead BNPB.
- Oct 16 Indonesia formally accepted regional assistance and technical talks on its implementation are underway.
- Oct 16 Legal notices were served on seven Indonesian firms for their role in the haze.
- Oct 16 Mask vending machines slated to be fully operational by Friday night
- Oct 18 ASEAN’s specialised meteorological centre triggered a Level 3 air‑quality alert for the southern region.
- Oct 19 Student Alliance of Gadjah Mada University addressed ASEAN Secretary‑General urging scrutiny of Indonesia’s compliance and acceptance of regional firefighting support.
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