Indonesia urges forest permit holders to scale up fire safeguards

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto ordered the revocation of business permits for firms suspected of ordering forest and land burning on August 24. The decree followed the fires that have burned approximately 85,000 hectares across Sumatra and Kalimantan, causing haze to spread to neighboring countries like Malaysia and Singapore.

Prabowo emphasized that any company, regardless of its nature, would have its license revoked if there is even the slightest evidence that they ordered the burning. He called for strengthened public education, particularly in villages, to prevent deliberate fires. Prabowo also urged local governments, the military, and the police to help organize land clearing, and suggested constructing boreholes in fire-prone areas for rapid firefighting.

The Indonesian government is utilizing satellite-based hotspot monitoring, helicopter water bombing, and weather modification operations to combat the fires. In Singapore, the National Environment Agency warned about occasional periods of haze due to increased hotspot activity, while in Malaysia, 30 monitoring stations reported "unhealthy" Air Pollutant Index (API) levels, with Sarawak being the most affected.