JAKARTA (Yosefardi) – President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has ordered the Chief of the National Police to take firm action over companies allegedly causing forest fires in Sumatra Island.
President Jokowi also ordered other related parties, including the Indonesia Military (TNI) and the Ministry of Forestry, to also take firm actions to those companies as well as preventive effort to avoid forest fires in the future.
President also urges the Ministry of Forestry to revoke the license of those companies proven of causing forest fires.
The President delivered his orders during his visit to the areas of the forest fires in Ogan Komering Ilir (OKI), South Sumatra province, on Sunday (Sep. 6).
This is Jokowi’s second visit to forest fires areas. Previously, Jokowi visited forest fires areas in Meranti regency, Riau province, back in Nov. 27, 2014, or a month after inaugurated as the seventh President of the Republic.
The smog from the forest fires in six provinces in Sumatra has become national issue as the smog posing a threat to human health and disrupting flights on the island. (haryantosuharman@yosefardi.com)