She noted that the fires affect multiple aspects of public life, particularly education and health, stressing that the current situation has reached the scale of an extraordinary disaster.
"It is not just about extinguishing the fires, but also anticipating issues related to health, education, and post-disaster response," Puan said at the Parliament Complex in Jakarta on Tuesday.
She stressed that addressing the crisis requires more than just firefighting efforts, adding that relevant ministries cannot address the issue in silos.
Puan also stated that the DPR will oversee the response efforts through a cross-commission synergy involving relevant parliamentary bodies.
"This cannot be addressed in isolation; it requires joint coordination. At the DPR, the leadership will hold a coordinating meeting to ensure the response involves various ministries and commissions," the house speaker remarked.
Forest and land fires have broken out across various regions in Indonesia, including Kalimantan, Sumatra, Papua, and Java, as the country faces a more intense dry season triggered by a strong El Niño phenomenon.
Both the central and local governments have taken various measures to address the situation. Among them, the Central Kalimantan Provincial Government declared a state of emergency for land and forest fires, effective from August 31 to September 29, 2026.
Central Kalimantan Governor Agustiar Sabran stated in Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan, on Tuesday that the status declaration would streamline the coordination of disaster management and response efforts.
Related news: Use of local knowledge needed to curb recurring wildfires: minister
Related news: Indonesia on alert for forest fires as El Nino peaks in September
Related news: Indonesia stays alert as forest fire hotspots decline
Translator: Bagus Ahmad, Raka Adji
Editor: Azis Kurmala
Copyright © ANTARA 2026
