Speaking after visiting flood-affected residents in North Sumatra on Saturday, Prabowo addressed concerns that illegal logging may have contributed to recent flooding in Sumatra, saying the government is taking action against companies operating without proper permits.
“We will crack down on illegal logging. Enforcement has already begun,” Prabowo said in a statement broadcast on the Presidential Secretariat’s YouTube channel.
As part of the crackdown, the government is strengthening inter-agency coordination to improve supervision and law enforcement on the ground.
Earlier, Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni said his ministry had identified entities suspected of contributing to flooding in Sumatra, with 12 legal entities already listed.
“Law enforcement action against these 12 legal entities will be taken immediately,” he said during a meeting with Commission IV of the House of Representatives in Jakarta on Thursday.
The minister added that the identification process is ongoing for legal entities linked to floods and landslides in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra under the Ministry of Forestry’s Directorate of Law Enforcement.
Following President Prabowo’s directive, Antoni said the ministry plans to revoke about 20 Forest Utilization Business Permits, covering a total area of around 750,000 hectares.
The move follows the ministry’s earlier revocation of 18 Forest Utilization Business Permits covering 526,144 hectares.
Antoni also said his ministry has formed a joint team with the National Police to trace the origin of logs carried away by floodwaters in several affected areas in Sumatra.
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Translator: Maria Cicilia, Raka Adji
Editor: Primayanti
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